CATL Struggles to Move Beyond Prototype Phase: Solid-State Batteries May Arrive Post-2030

When CATL is mentioned, it refers to the world's leading producer of batteries for the automotive sector, and consequently, every report from its management is practically considered a true reflection of the entire market.

Recently, President Robin Zeng stated during an industry panel that CATL is facing difficulties in developing solid-state batteries. According to him, the company is currently stuck at level four, out of a planned total of nine levels, where level eight would correspond to pilot validation.

Engineering teams must address multiple aspects in parallel to scale between different levels, including technical, safety, and commercial aspects. As a direct consequence of these difficulties, the roadmap seems to have been updated to at least 2027 for the first pilot productions, although some manufacturers (like Dongfeng) remain hopeful for "late 2026."

Meanwhile, the Chinese regulatory framework is evolving, and battery packs that still contain between 5% and 20% liquid electrolyte are still considered hybrid, not solid-state. To achieve full and true classification as solid-state, it is necessary to reduce liquid content below the 5% threshold.

All this is happening in a scenario where recent industrial data shows that LFP-type lithium batteries are now dominant, holding an 81.2% share in China, while ternary batteries (like NMC) stand at 18.6%. Therefore, there is a real possibility that the true advent of solid-state batteries may not arrive until post-2030.