CATL solid-state batteries: production expected by 2030

The race to develop solid-state batteries is already under way, with several manufacturers promising to bring them to market before the end of the decade. Their benefits are well established: higher energy density - and therefore greater range - faster charging, improved safety and a longer service life than today’s lithium-ion batteries.

Rumours recently circulated on social media claiming that CATL, the Chinese world leader in battery manufacturing, had created a prototype battery offering around 2,000 km of range and a charging time of just 10 minutes, with series-production lines expected to begin operating as early as 2027. However, the company denied that this information was accurate regarding the timeline.

“Commercialisation (of solid-state batteries), including supply-chain development, is still some way off,” the company told CarNewsChina.

“CATL continues to invest in the technology, retaining a technical lead in the industry, and expects to achieve small-scale production by 2027,” it added.

According to the Chinese publication, the statement is consistent with what CATL has announced in recent months: small-scale production by 2027, followed by mass production around 2030.

This clearly indicates that, even though research and development are moving ahead quickly, taking the technology from the laboratory into industrial production remains a complicated process.

CATL’s solid-state battery production timetable

CATL expects to reach limited solid-state battery production by 2027, while full-scale manufacturing is projected for around 2030. The intervening years will be needed not only to refine the technology, but also to establish the required supply chain.

CATL has alternative battery solutions

While solid-state battery production has yet to become a reality, CATL has continued broadening its range of options. In November last year, the company unveiled the 1,000 kWh Tectrans battery, designed for heavy-duty lorries.

More recently, at the Shanghai Motor Show, it introduced the Naxtra sodium-ion battery, which can provide up to 500 km of range thanks to an energy density comparable with that of LFP (lithium iron phosphate) batteries.

Shenxing Pro battery for European car makers

Last September, during the 2025 Munich Motor Show, the brand also presented its new Shenxing Pro battery for European car manufacturers. It offers up to 758 km of WLTP range, a service life of 12 years or one million kilometres, and only 9% degradation after 200,000 km.

“The company places great emphasis on solid-state batteries, drawing on more than a decade of research and development experience in this field. It has assembled an industry-leading R&D team and is increasing investment in solid-state battery technology, consistently maintaining a leading position in the sector. At present, the scientific challenges facing the solid-state battery industry have largely been resolved, although some engineering issues still remain,” the company concluded.