China’s major automakers and battery suppliers are moving up their timetables for solid-state battery development and small-scale production. Following the planned publication of the first national standard for automotive solid-state batteries in July, companies including Geely, Chery, BYD and Sunwoda have outlined their roadmaps for prototype launches, pilot lines and demonstration vehicles.
Geely Automobile has adopted three solid-state electrolyte approaches—polymer (organic), sulfide and halide (inorganic)—to meet varying market needs. The company has also developed high-nickel ternary cathode materials, composite electrolytes with flame-retardant and self-extinguishing properties, and an in-situ lithium dendrite repair technology. According to Shen Yuan, Geely’s CTO, the automaker plans to unveil prototype vehicles in 2026, operate 1,000 demonstration vehicles in 2027 and achieve small-batch industrial output the same year. By 2030, Geely aims for solid-state battery cell energy density above 500 Wh/kg and bill-of-materials costs below 0.6 yuan/Wh in high-end models.
Chery Automobile intends to build a 0.5 GWh pilot production line and complete 60 Ah solid-state cell samples in 2026. Vice President Gu Chunshan said Chery will begin vehicle demonstrations in 2027, paving the way for scaled applications.
FAW’s Hongqi subsidiary rolled out a solid-state prototype this January, reporting breakthroughs in sulfide electrolytes, 10 Ah cell performance and 60 Ah cell processing. Those 66 Ah cells passed 200 °C thermal abuse tests, and electrolyte conductivity exceeded 10 mS/cm.
Battery suppliers are advancing in parallel. BYD is prioritizing sulfide solid-state chemistry with plans for small-batch production by 2027, while Sunwoda has already achieved scale production of semi-solid cells and targets fully solid-state mass production by 2027.
Policy support is strengthening this industrial push. The draft national standard GB/T “Electric Vehicle Solid-State Batteries Part 1: Terminology and Classification” completed public consultation in December 2025, with validation testing through February and final publication expected in July. This standard will define terms for liquid, hybrid solid-liquid and fully solid-state batteries.
Experts note that solid-state batteries face scientific and engineering challenges—unclear material systems, interface failures, electrolyte film control and manufacturing defects that can cause short circuits and limit cycle life.
Analysts forecast a transition from semi-solid pilot lines in 2026 to small-batch fully solid-state production in 2027 and large-scale output of high-end cells by 2030, while cautioning about technology shifts, raw-material supply and patent barriers.
Source: CarNewsChina
