# CATL targets 2027 pilot output for all-solid-state batteries *The Chinese battery maker faces severe chemical barriers and high precursor costs as Samsung SDI and Toyota race to commercialize sulfide cells by 2027.* **Published:** September 19, 2026 **By:** Lian Chen **Section:** Batteries & Electric Vehicles — China **Format:** Why It Matters **Confidence:** medium **Source:** https://eastasiabrief.com/batteries-ev/catl-targets-2027-pilot-output-all-solid-state-batteries-322 **Publisher:** East Asia Brief (https://eastasiabrief.com/) --- ## What to know - CATL targets 500 Wh/kg solid-state pilot output in 2027 - Samsung SDI commits 16 trillion won to Ulsan for H2 2027 mass output - Pilot lines face $400-$600 per kWh costs versus $81 for LFP packs ![Technicians in cleanroom suits assemble battery components along an automated line inside an electric vehicle battery manufacturing facility. (AI-generated image)](https://eastasiabrief.com/media/2026-09-19-7b2b0633096d.webp) *Technicians in cleanroom suits assemble battery components along an automated line inside an electric vehicle battery manufacturing facility. (AI-generated image)* Contemporary Amperex Technology reiterated on Sept. 19, 2026, that its engineering roadmap targeting small-batch pilot production of all-solid-state electric vehicle batteries by 2027 remains on schedule. The Chinese battery manufacturer holds 45.08% of China's domestic electric vehicle battery market and delivered 339.3 gigawatt-hours of cells globally in 2024. That volume accounted for more than double the installations registered by its nearest global competitor. The company is targeting an energy density of 500 watt-hours per kilogram for its prototype solid-state cells. That density represents roughly double the storage capability of standard lithium-iron-phosphate packs deployed across mass-market electric vehicles. The production timeline reflects formal management replies submitted on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange investor interactive platform on Sept. 9, 2026. The company stated that internal research investments remain sustained and its technology maturity ranks at an industry-leading tier. A previous corporate disclosure on July 29, 2026, similarly confirmed that pilot lines were being aligned for limited trial manufacturing. The battery maker maintains roughly 1,000 dedicated research personnel focused specifically on sulfide-based solid electrolyte chemistries, corporate records show. Chairman Robin Zeng offered a more restrained assessment during the Summer Davos forum on June 23, 2026. Today's all-solid-state cells sit around Technology Readiness Level 4, representing basic laboratory principle validation, Zeng said. True commercial mass manufacturing exceeding one million vehicle units will remain difficult to achieve before 2030, Zeng said. The gap reflects severe physical and manufacturing barriers between producing laboratory test cells and operating high-speed factory assembly lines. Chief Scientist Wu Kai first unveiled the corporate 2027 target at the China International Battery Fair on April 28, 2024. Wu stated that manufacturing capabilities would advance to readiness levels seven and eight to support limited experimental batches. Sulfide-based solid electrolytes — solid materials that conduct lithium ions between electrodes — degrade rapidly when exposed to atmospheric humidity, producing hazardous hydrogen sulfide gas. Cell fabrication lines must therefore operate inside specialized ultra-dry cleanrooms, preventing manufacturers from repurposing existing wet-process slurry coating machinery. Solid-to-solid electrode interfaces, dry-electrode coating adhesion and warm isostatic pressing yields present persistent engineering bottlenecks. Those processing challenges generate high defect rates and depress line yields during early cell assembly operations. Cost structures also present a severe commercial barrier for passenger vehicle integration over the medium term. All-solid-state cells currently cost between $400 and $600 per kilowatt-hour, according to market research firm SNE Research. That cost structure stands sharply above mass-market lithium-iron-phosphate battery packs, which trade near $81 per kilowatt-hour. Mainstream nickel-cobalt-manganese cells currently price at approximately $128 per kilowatt-hour across global automotive supply contracts. High synthesis costs for specialized precursor compounds explain the price divergence. Lithium sulfide precursor materials require energy-intensive processing, keeping solid electrolyte compounds several times more costly than conventional liquid organic solvent formulations. Domestic rival BYD is advancing a parallel schedule for next-generation solid-state vehicle integration. The Shenzhen-based vehicle manufacturer registered six patents on July 31, 2026, covering composite sulfide and halide solid electrolyte material formulations. BYD plans to install experimental solid-state battery packs into disguised test vehicles during 2027, company executives said. That deployment establishes direct domestic competition between China's two dominant battery manufacturers for next-generation technology validation. South Korean battery producers are establishing competing commercial timelines to preserve premium automotive accounts. Samsung SDI plans to initiate mass production of sulfide-based all-solid-state batteries at its Ulsan plant in the second half of 2027, the company said. The Ulsan line forms part of a broader 14-year investment blueprint totaling 25 trillion won ($18.3 billion) through 2040. Samsung SDI has earmarked 16 trillion won ($11.7 billion) specifically for its Ulsan manufacturing hub to construct solid-state and advanced chemistry lines. Samsung SDI currently operates a 6,500-square-meter pilot facility named S-Line at its Suwon research center. The company has already shipped prototype cells with targeted energy densities exceeding 900 watt-hours per liter to prospective industrial customers. High early cell prices are channeling initial solid-state volumes toward specialized devices where weight and safety outweigh manufacturing expense. Samsung SDI unveiled prototype pouch cells at the InterBattery exhibition in Seoul tailored for humanoid robotics and physical artificial intelligence hardware. South Korean cathode producer EcoPro BM is supporting that supply chain by operating a 40-ton annual pilot plant for sulfide solid electrolytes. Trial batches from that facility have cleared quality screening with major battery manufacturers, according to company disclosures. Competing South Korean cell makers have set slightly longer timelines to mitigate early manufacturing capital risk. LG Energy Solution is targeting 2029 for graphite-based solid-state vehicle cells, while SK On aims to commercialize an 800 watt-hour-per-liter cell by 2029. Japanese automakers are aligning their commercialization programs with the same late-decade development window. Toyota Motor has formed a joint processing partnership with Idemitsu Kosan to build solid electrolyte production infrastructure, targeting vehicle launches between 2027 and 2028. The desk could not confirm a separate corporate filing or independent roadmap announcement from Contemporary Amperex Technology on Sept. 19, 2026. The company has not published capital expenditure commitments or initial customer allocation agreements for its planned 2027 pilot lines. Equipment commissioning across trial facilities is scheduled for late 2026, ahead of scheduled sample deliveries to testing partners in 2027. Samsung SDI reviews performance validation data from prospective robotics clients before finalizing commercial equipment tenders for its Ulsan facility next year. ## Impact map | Event | Korea | China | Japan | Global impact | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Solid-state battery commercialization race | Samsung SDI commits 16 trillion won to Ulsan for H2 2027 mass line | CATL and BYD target 2027 pilot batches while scaling LFP share | Toyota Motor targets 2027-2028 commercial rollout with Idemitsu Kosan | Automakers face $400-$600/kWh initial cell costs, limiting scale before 2030 | ## In this story - **Companies:** Contemporary Amperex Technology, Samsung SDI - **Tickers:** 300750.SZ, 006400.KS - **Exposed:** BYD, Toyota Motor, LG Energy Solution, SK On, EcoPro BM - **Policy:** Subsidies, Economic Security - **Impact:** Capex, Supply Chain, Pricing ## Primary sources 1. seoul.co.kr 2. ainews1.co.kr 3. sina.cn 4. caiwennews.com 5. 36kr.com --- Cite as: East Asia Brief, "CATL targets 2027 pilot output for all-solid-state batteries," September 19, 2026. https://eastasiabrief.com/batteries-ev/catl-targets-2027-pilot-output-all-solid-state-batteries-322