Battery Industrialisation
Hongqi moves solid-state batteries from lab to trial production
Hongqi has produced its first all-solid-state battery packs in a controlled manufacturing environment, marking a shift from experimental development to industrial validation.
The transition from theoretical energy density to tangible automotive hardware has, it seems, reached a decisive phase. On 4 January 2026, the Chinese automotive sector marked a significant milestone asHongqi, the premium subsidiary of FAW Group, announced that its first all-solid-state battery pack had successfully rolled off the production line. The question is now, how long until commercialisation?
The development, which follows the debut of the Tian Gong 06 model at the Guangzhou Auto Show, showcases one of the first successful attempts to move all-solid-state technology into a trial manufacturing environment. For automotive manufacturers, this is less a story about chemistry and more a demonstration of industrial scalability. The successful assembly of these packs signals that the complex integration of solid electrolytes is finally moving past the experimental stage and into a phase where production stability can be measured and refined.
The climate of the factory floor
While the Hongqi milestone provides a cause for optimism, a closer analysis of the manufacturing requirements reveals a formidable barrier to entry. Unlike conventional lithium-ion lines, the production of sulfide-based solid-state batteries requires an environmental control system of unprecedented complexity. These electrolytes are notoriously sensitive to moisture, reacting to even trace amounts of humidity to produce hazardous hydrogen sulfide gas. Consequently, the manufacturing floor must be transformed into a hyper-controlled dry room with dew points maintained as low as -70°C.
This, in effect, is a total reimagining of plant HVAC and sealing technology. The capital expenditure required for such facilities is significantly higher than that of current gigafactories, forcing manufacturers to choose between total plant isolation or the use of automated micro-environments that shield the battery cells throughout the assembly process.
Durability as a manufacturing metric
The industrial logic behind these high-cost facilities is rooted in the exceptional longevity of the cells they produce. Recent technical briefings from Toyota’s Carbon Neutral Advanced Engineering Development Centre suggest that the production goal is no longer just a high-performance battery, but an asset that can survive multiple vehicle lifecycles. Keiji Kaita, the centre's president, has indicated that the cost-benefit analysis is shifting toward a model where the battery is the most permanent part of the car.
"This is one of the points we have now clarifying with our supplier… [We have] assumed cost versus quantity cost … and we also assume the demand versus price cost – and then we have the process of that, then how we should reduce the cost," Kaita noted in discussions regarding the industrialisation of the technology. The carmaker has said it is on target to introduce solid-state batteries to its vehicles in the next two years.
Kaita further elaborated on the potential for asset recovery, suggesting that even if a vehicle is scrapped, the battery could be removed and installed in a new vehicle two or even three times. This vision of a 40-year battery fundamentally changes the manufacturing priority from low-cost disposability to high-spec durability.
Securing the upstream flow
The ability to scale this technology also depends on the integration of the chemical supply chain directly into the automotive manufacturing footprint. The recent partnership between Toyota and Sumitomo Metal Mining to produce cathode materials highlights a trend toward vertical integration. By securing the supply of high-nickel and LFP cathodes tailored for solid electrolytes, OEMs are attempting to de-risk the ramp-up to mass production, which is now anticipated to begin in earnest around 2030.
The Hongqi trial production serves as the first real-world stress test for these integrated supply chains, providing the data necessary to stabilise production quality. For the manufacturing professional, the solid-state revolution may eventually be achieved through the mastery of the hyper-dry, automated assembly line.
