BatteryTech News & Updates — 2025 #52

December 28, 2025

Newsletter

Dear Battery-Tech community and professionals, I hope you had a great Christmas time. As always, find here your weekly update of major developments in the global battery industry, energy storage, and EV market. We are closing the year with this last 2025 edition. I wish you a happy New Year and look forward to continuing to support the battery industry and community in 2026. - Julian

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⭕ INDUSTRY & MARKET DEVELOPMENTS

🔋 BYD’s European EV Registrations Surge as Tesla Declines

In November, BYD’s new-vehicle registrations in Europe rose 221.8% to 21,133 units while Tesla’s fell 11.8% to 22,801. Year-to-date BYD’s registrations climbed 276% versus a 28% decline for Tesla. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/byds-european-ev-registrations-surge-as-tesla-declines/

🔋 BYD Poised to Ship One Million New Energy Vehicles in 2025

BYD plans to export one million new energy vehicles in 2025 after shipping 128,067 cars abroad in November and 878,498 units exported through November, a 144% year-on-year increase. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/byd-poised-to-ship-one-million-new-energy-vehicles-in-2025/

🔋 Zeekr Completes Merger with Geely Auto and Delists from NYSE

Zeekr has merged into Geely Auto as a wholly owned subsidiary and delisted its ADS from the NYSE as part of Geely’s One Geely strategy to streamline brands and reduce overlap. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/zeekr-completes-merger-with-geely-auto-and-delists-from-nyse/

🔋 LG Energy Solution Sells Ohio Assets to Honda for $2.86B

LG Energy Solution will sell its Ohio factory building and related nonland assets to Honda Development and Manufacturing of America for $2.86 billion to improve joint-venture efficiency amid shifting EV battery partnerships. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/lg-energy-solution-sells-ohio-assets-to-honda-for-2-86b/

🔋 SAIC-Volkswagen Passat ePro PHEV to Launch in 2026

SAIC-Volkswagen’s Passat ePro PHEV, due in 2026, uses a next-gen hybrid platform with a 22 kWh battery for over 150 km EV range, a 95 kW 1.5T engine and a 145 kW motor for a combined 1,300 km range. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/saic-volkswagen-passat-epro-phev-to-launch-in-2026/

🔋 China’s Lithium Battery Demand to Fall Sharply in Early 2026

China’s lithium battery demand is expected to drop sharply in early 2026 following a projected 30% decline in EV sales and weaker exports, prompting industry leaders to cut production. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/chinas-lithium-battery-demand-to-fall-sharply-in-early-2026/

🔋 China Suspends Operations at Porsche and Volkswagen Dealers

Several Porsche and Volkswagen dealers in China halted operations after showrooms were emptied and customers were left with pending deposits; Porsche China apologized and is cooperating with authorities. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/china-suspends-operations-at-porsche-and-volkswagen-dealers/

🔋 China Mandates New Mandatory EV Battery Safety Standards

China finalized 294 mandatory national standards, including no-fire, no-explosion EV battery safety rules under GB 38031-2025 effective July 2026, plus enhanced energy efficiency and recycling guidelines. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/china-mandates-new-mandatory-ev-battery-safety-standards/

⭕ BATTERY TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION

🔋 Eve Energy Starts $140M Sodium-Ion HQ with Robotics Hub

Eve Energy broke ground on a Huizhou campus for a sodium-ion battery headquarters and a 50,000 m² AI robotics center backed by a RMB 1 billion ($140 million) investment; the 90,000 m² battery complex targets 2 GWh of cell output annually. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/eve-energy-starts-140m-sodium-ion-hq-with-robotics-hub/

🔋 Samsung SDI and KGM Team Up on Next-Gen EV Battery Packs

Samsung SDI and automaker KGM will jointly develop next-gen EV battery packs based on 46-series cylindrical cells, focusing on higher energy density, longer driving range and faster charging through advanced cell design and thermal management. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/samsung-sdi-and-kgm-team-up-on-next-gen-ev-battery-packs/

🔋 Sunwoda and Zhongwei Team Up on Solid-State EV Batteries

Sunwoda Electronic and Zhongwei New Materials formed a strategic partnership to co-develop cathode precursors, cathode materials and full-solid-state EV battery technologies, aiming to pilot 60 Ah cells and accelerate commercialization. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/sunwoda-and-zhongwei-team-up-on-solid-state-ev-batteries/

🔋 CNGR and Sunwoda Agree on Solid-State Battery Partnership

CNGR and Sunwoda signed a strategic framework agreement to speed commercialization of solid-state batteries, combining expertise in precursor tech, cathode materials, cell prototyping and scaled production capacity. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/cngr-and-sunwoda-agree-on-solid-state-battery-partnership/

⭕ ENERGY STORAGE & GRID

🔋 Global Lithium-Ion Battery Costs Fall 8% to $108/kWh

Average lithium-ion battery pack costs fell 8% to $108/kWh in 2025, a 93% decline since 2010; China leads at $84/kWh with LFP and stationary storage packs reached benchmark lows near $50/kWh. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/global-lithium-ion-battery-costs-fall-8-to-108-kwh/

🔋 KULR, Cell Maker Team on $100M AI Data Center Backup Unit

KULR Technology Group and a battery-cell maker will co-develop the KULR ONE MAX Battery Backup Unit for AI data centers under a $100M program that uses ultra-high-power 21700 cells and aims for UL certification. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/kulr-cell-maker-team-on-100m-ai-data-center-backup-unit/

🔋 Nuvve and E&B Renewables Sign MOU for 100 MW BESS Projects

Nuvve Denmark and E&B Renewables signed an MOU to deploy 2–100 MW battery storage across Northern Europe and the Baltics; three 2 MW Danish projects will start first, with 20–50 MW more by early 2026, managed via Nuvve’s grid platform. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/nuvve-and-eb-renewables-sign-mou-for-100-mw-bess-projects/

⭕ MINING & BATTERY MATERIALS

🔋 CATL’s Jianxiawo Lithium Mine to Restart by Chinese New Year

CATL’s Jianxiawo lithium mine in Yichun, Jiangxi province is scheduled to resume operations around China’s 2026 New Year after renewing its mining permit and completing an environmental assessment, amid rebounding lithium prices and rising LFP costs. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/catls-jianxiawo-lithium-mine-to-restart-by-chinese-new-year/