CATL, the world's largest battery maker, has confirmed it is on track to begin small-batch production of all-solid-state batteries in 2027, according to a statement on an investor platform reported by Chinese outlet First Electric (d1ev.com). The company said its solid-state technology is at an industry-leading level and that it continues to invest heavily in research and development.
Unlike today's lithium batteries, which use liquid electrolytes, all-solid-state cells replace the electrolyte and separator with a solid electrolyte and pair it with a lithium-metal anode. That architecture could push energy density beyond 400Wh/kg, a substantial jump over current cells, and deliver significantly longer driving range. The technology is also expected to be safer, as it is far less prone to thermal runaway and fires, and it can support faster charging, making it widely seen as the core direction for next-generation power batteries.
Key hurdle: solid-solid interface
The biggest technical obstacle remains the solid-solid interface problem. During charge and discharge, electrode materials expand and contract, which can cause the electrolyte and electrode to delaminate, hurting cycle life and stability. CATL chairman Robin Zeng has previously said there is still a long road to mature mass production, while chief manufacturing officer Ni Jun has said commercial-scale rollout will take at least several more years.
Many automakers and battery firms have published their own solid-state timelines, but industry consensus is that samples produced in 2027 will likely go first to high-end models and special-purpose equipment for validation. Output will be limited and costs will remain high, so mainstream family cars are unlikely to adopt the technology soon. First Electric quotes an industry estimate that ordinary consumers may not experience solid-state batteries until after 2030.
Multi-track strategy remains
CATL is not betting on a single technology path. The company is simultaneously advancing condensed-matter batteries, its Shenxing fast-charging cells and sodium-ion batteries, and it expects liquid-electrolyte lithium batteries to remain the market主力 for the next few years. A breakthrough in engineering solid-state cells would reshape the performance ceiling for power batteries, but moving from samples to small batches and then to low-cost, stable mass production involves many hurdles.
For now, CATL's liquid battery lineup continues to serve as the mainstay of its business, and the company's multi-pronged strategy gives it flexibility as solid-state technology matures. The 2027 target is for small-batch output, not large-scale commercialization, and the company has not disclosed specific production volumes or which customers might receive initial samples.
