On October 27, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) stated on an investor interactive platform that the company remains firmly committed to investing in the research and development of all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs). It emphasized that its proprietary technologies maintain an industry-leading position, with small-scale production anticipated by 2027.
Centering on the commercialization of all-solid-state batteries, CATL has continued this year to push forward R&D in core technologies, including material systems and electrode interfaces, while steadily solidifying its technical layout through patent applications.
In March, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) published an international patent application filed by CATL covering positive electrode sheets, solid-state battery cells, and positive electrode active materials. The technology centers on a sulfide-based solid electrolyte system and is designed to improve material stability through targeted cathode material engineering and interface regulation.
In May, the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) disclosed another solid-state battery patent application from CATL involving positive electrode active materials and their preparation methods. By applying distinct protective coating layers onto the surface of the positive active material, this design enhances material performance and the battery’s cycling stability. These patent filings reflect CATL's sustained drive to advance the technical development of solid-state battery materials and electrode interfaces.
Even as technological R&D steadily moves forward, solid-state batteries remain some distance away from large-scale commercial application. In June this year, at the 2026 Summer Davos Forum (Annual Meeting of the New Champions), CATL Chairman Robin Zeng (Zeng Yuqun) stated that if solid-state battery technology readiness were graded on a scale of 1 to 9, the industry's overall status at the time was roughly at Level 4, whereas Level 9 signifies a mature technical route fully primed for mass production. He also pointed out that the industrialization of solid-state batteries involves multiple critical factors, including product reliability, safety, supply chain capacity, and market acceptance.
From the perspective of broader industry progress, solid-state batteries are currently advancing from laboratory R&D toward the engineering validation stage. TrendForce noted in its Global Solid-State Battery Industry Dynamics Quarterly Report (2Q26) that Chinese enterprises are collaborating across the entire value chain to overcome engineering bottlenecks in ASSBs. Equipment procurement and bidding for ASSB pilot production lines among leading manufacturers—such as CATL, BYD, and FAW Group—have progressed smoothly, accelerating the transition of ASSB technology toward Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 4 to 5 in the first half of 2026.
Moving forward, the pace of pilot-line testing, manufacturing process optimization, and customer qualification will serve as the decisive factors determining whether CATL can advance small-scale production by 2027 as scheduled.
Source：EnergyTrend