Global solid-state battery race heats up, China seizes an edge

The global race for solid-state batteries is accelerating and China is seizing the momentum through its vast industrial ecosystem and booming market. Meanwhile, Chongqing in southwest China is emerging as a critical hub, with major projects and leading automakers driving the transformation.

In Chongqing's Liangjiang New Area, China's largest solid-state battery production base is under construction. Ganfeng Lithium – China's top lithium producer and a global leader in lithium metal and hydroxide – has also chosen the city for its flagship facility and research institute, aiming to strengthen the new energy vehicles (NEVs) battery supply chain and accelerate local electrification and high-end auto development.

Chongqing is also home to automakers such as Changan Automobile and Seres. Changan's ambitious shift to NEVs is expected to create demand for millions of advanced batteries, offering a stable market for R&D, testing and deployment – an edge few other cities can match.

Although the idea of solid-state batteries dates back to the 19th century, commercialization was long held back by low conductivity and interface issues. Advances in materials science in the 21st century have overcome these hurdles, paving the way for mass adoption.

With their potential now widely recognized, solid-state batteries have ignited global competition across technology, capital and supply chains. Four major blocs – the United States, Japan, South Korea and China – have taken shape, with automakers and startups driving faster progress.

In the United States, QuantumScape backed by Volkswagen and Solid Power backed by Ford and BMW are pursuing all-solid-state technologies, supported by strong capital markets and pilot production lines ranging from hundreds of megawatt-hours to gigawatt-hours in scale.

Japan and South Korea are advancing through industrial giants. Toyota, which holds more than a thousand patents in solid-state batteries, is leveraging its deep expertise in materials and manufacturing to approach mass production. Samsung SDI and LG Energy Solution are drawing on their strengths in consumer electronics and conventional lithium batteries, with mass production expected after 2027.

China's approach combines leadership by major enterprises with broad participation from innovators. CATL and BYD are investing in sulfide-based technologies, while companies such as WELION New Energy, Ganfeng Lithium, and Gotion High-Tech are making early progress in semi-solid batteries, providing valuable data for future development.

China's advantages lie in its system-level advantages. As the world's largest NEV market, it provides unmatched application scenarios and room for rapid iteration. Automakers' demand for longer-range, safer batteries is now the main driver of technological progress. The country's dominance in the liquid lithium battery industry – from materials to manufacturing – provides a strong base to cut costs and speed up the transition.

Challenges remain. Unlike the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta, Chongqing still lags in raw materials, equipment manufacturing and top talent for lithium batteries. Its most urgent task is to build a competitive local supply chain around core projects to secure a strong position in the industry.