CATL to Begin Pilot Production of All-Solid-State Batteries in 2027, Becoming the Second Company After BYD

*This content was translated by AI.

CATL, the world's largest battery manufacturer, has officially announced its goal to begin pilot production of all-solid-state batteries (SSBs) in 2027, following BYD, another battery maker. This move intensifies the commercialization race between the top two global battery companies vying for technological leadership over SSBs, which are hailed as the ultimate evolution of next-generation electric vehicles and "dream batteries."

CATL recently stated through a question-and-answer session with investors that it plans to establish a pilot production line in 2027 and commence small-scale pilot production of all-solid-state battery cells. Wu Kai, CATL's chief scientist, explained that the company aims to rapidly advance its Technology Readiness Level (TRL) from the current stage 4 (laboratory evaluation) to stages 7–8 by 2027, enabling pilot production and real-world road driving validation.

However, Zeng Weiqin (Robin Zeng), chairman of CATL, noted that due to initial engineering constraints, the pilot production volume will initially be prioritized for high-end premium electric vehicle platforms priced at over 250,000 yuan (approximately 48 million won). He also projected that achieving mass production at the Yangsan scale, representing annual output of one million units, would likely remain unattainable before 2030. As of June 2026, CATL holds the industry's top position with 32.59 GWh of battery installations in China and a market share of 43.2%.

Competitor BYD is also accelerating its research and development on all-solid-state batteries, targeting pilot production and real-vehicle testing by 2027. BYD has recently registered six new patents related to dual-electrolyte cathode structures combining halide and sulfide solid electrolytes, as well as innovations for reducing interfacial resistance and preventing thermal runaway. The company plans to install the pilot cells produced in 2027 into test vehicles covered with camouflage wraps to conduct actual performance validation.

All-solid-state batteries represent a core technology that significantly reduces fire and explosion risks by replacing conventional liquid electrolytes with solid materials while dramatically extending driving range. With both global battery giants CATL and BYD confirming 2027 as the target for pilot production, the verification of SSBs beyond laboratory settings and their market commercialization race are expected to enter full swing.

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*This content was translated by AI.