China's auto giants join forces for solid-state EV battery project

China is accelerating its development of solid-state battery technology through a new pilot project based in Beijing, officially named the “All-Solid-State Electrolyte Pilot Production and Testing Validation Capability Construction Project.” Led by the Guolian Automotive Power Battery Research Institute, the initiative focuses on researching, testing, and validating solid-state electrolyte materials, which are crucial for the performance and safety of next-generation all-solid-state batteries. The pilot facility, located in Beijing’s Yanqi Economic Development Zone, will repurpose an existing industrial building for laboratory and pilot-scale production, aiming to produce around 25 tons of solid-state electrolyte materials annually. This project is designed as a research and validation platform to build China’s industrial expertise and supply chain for solid-state batteries, which remain several years away from full commercial deployment. The project is backed by a consortium of major Chinese automakers, battery suppliers, and state-owned enterprises, including Youyan Technology Group, FAW Group, Dongfeng Motor, BAIC Group, Changan Automobile,