CATL is aiming for a 2027 trial production for its SSBs. Image modified by CarNewsChina. Understand China EV’s Market Real-time notifications when critical EV data is released All important data in one place 2,000,000+ data points Become a member The race for solid-state batteries (SSB) in China is heating up. Shortly after BYD published six SSB patents, CATL also announced plans to begin small-scale trial production of its solid-state battery cells in 2027, aligning with the Chinese automaker’s timelines. Often referred to as the “holy grail” and final evolution of EVs, automakers and battery makers have poured resources into refining SSB tech, which promises to boost battery capacity, reduce weight, and prevent explosions and thermal runaways. libattery.net reports that in a Q&A session with investors, CATL representatives stated that the battery maker was committed to ongoing SSB research, and its progress in SSB tech was “industry-leading”. The reply also states that CATL plans to begin small-scale SSB production on pilot lines in 2027. CATL’s reply to investors. Credit: libattery.net The race to SSBs against BYD CarNewsChina previously reported on BYD’s six new SSB patents, which cover material chemistry, manufacturing guidelines and quality control. The automaker is focusing on a dual-electrolyte cathode approach, replacing traditional liquid electrolytes by combining solid halide and sulfide components. Alongside the patents, BYD also committed to a trial run of SSB production in 2027. While consumer-facing SSB-equipped NEVs are still years away, both CATL and BYD claim SSBs will move from the laboratory to the assembly line in the coming year. Interestingly enough, CATL published its reply to investors on July 29, while BYD published its six new patents on July 31. The SSB race between the two battery giants remains neck-and-neck. CATL’s progress CATL’s leadership has repeatedly poured cold water on the idea of rapid SSB rollouts, with company chairman Dr Robin Zeng claiming that mass-market adoption of SSBs was “years away”. Speaking at an industry panel in late June, the chairman claimed that CATL’s SSBs were only at level four on the nine-point Technology Readiness Level (TRL) scale. This means that the firm’s cells are still being validated and developed in laboratory environments. The Technology Readiness Level (TRL) scale. Credit: Wind Harvest The battery maker appears to be confident in its 2027 pilot goal. CATL’s Chief Scientist, Wu Kai, says the firm is targeting TRL 7 or 8 for its SSBs by 2027, enabling pilot production and real-world validation. CATL has also published market research on the eventual launch of SSBs to the masses. CarNewsChina reported earlier that the firm had set the threshold for large-scale SSB production at 1 million vehicles. This figure is expected to be unattainable before 2030. Zeng has also shed light on the expected market performance of CATL’s SSBs. The chairman claims that engineering constraints will limit initial commercial batches of SSBs to premium NEV platforms, and it may only see adoption in vehicles priced at 250,000 yuan (37,000 USD) or above. More on CATL According to China EV DataTracker, CATL is China’s largest battery maker, with 32.59 GWh of installed capacity in June 2026. It has a 43.2% market share in its domestic market. It’s also the world’s largest battery maker, supplying cells to both Chinese and international automakers. Market share of China’s top 10 battery makers in June 2026. Source: China EV DataTracker The race for SSBs offers an opportunity for smaller battery makers and automakers to reset the established battery order. With firms like Dongfeng, Changan and Pure Lithium putting their hats in the SSB ring, it remains to be seen who will emerge on top with the “holy grail”. Most important news in your inbox. Recaps · scheduled All you need, in one email. Instant alerts · real-time Ping me when an article goes live. 0 of 27 topics selected Bundle into one email per day — instead of one email per article No spam · Unsubscribe with one click · Change settings anytime
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