SAIC Motor has confirmed that its partner Qingtao Power has completed full-line commissioning at its all-solid-state battery production facility in Anting. According to reporting from IT-Home, the company expects sample cells to be produced before the end of the year, followed by prototype vehicle testing in 2025. If development continues on schedule, SAIC aims to begin commercial mass delivery of the technology in 2027.
SAIC has already outlined its technical benchmarks for the new chemistry. The solid-state cells are targeted to achieve a gravimetric energy density of more than 400 Wh/kg, a volumetric energy density above 820 Wh/L, and single-cell capacities exceeding 75 Ah. These figures were shared earlier through SAIC’s corporate briefings and technology summaries and have been consistently cited in industry coverage.
The company has also released preliminary safety data. Test cells reportedly passed nail-penetration trials and remained stable during exposure to a 200°C thermal chamber without fire or explosion. SAIC states that the chemistry maintains over 90 per cent capacity at low temperatures. These results reflect laboratory and validation testing tied to the firm’s established development roadmap.
SAIC’s involvement in solid-state battery development goes back several years. The company has invested in Qingtao Energy and formed a joint laboratory to accelerate research and scaling efforts. Industry reports note that the commissioning of this line is the latest step in a long-term plan to progress the technology from lab samples to road-ready applications.
Even with these milestones, analysts caution that commissioning a sample production line is not the same as demonstrating long-term manufacturability or commercial viability. Large-scale success will depend on consistent production yields, supply-chain maturity and extensive real-world durability testing. SAIC has not announced pricing or commercial terms for the technology.
SAIC is one of several Chinese manufacturers pushing toward solid-state battery commercialisation. GAC Group recently completed China’s first production line for large-capacity solid-state cells (above 60 Ah), with mass production aimed for 2027–2030. Chery has presented a 600 Wh/kg solid-state module and plans pilot vehicle testing in 2026 with broader availability in 2027. Sunwoda, supported by Li Auto, is developing a 400 Wh/kg cell with a projected 1,000 km range and a 1,200-cycle lifespan. Meanwhile, CATL has urged caution, stating that large-scale solid-state manufacturing is unlikely before around 2030, despite ongoing R&D.
SAIC’s announcement places it firmly within an increasingly competitive race to bring solid-state batteries from theory to everyday use, with the next two years expected to determine which programmes can meet the demanding requirements of mass-market production.
