BYD is publicly staking its claim to solid-state battery leadership. Speaking on the sidelines of the IAA Transportation show, BYD executive vice president Stella Li said the Shenzhen-based automaker plans to introduce its first solid-state battery-equipped electric vehicle in 2027 and asserted that BYD is in "the leading position" on both the chemistry and the manufacturing know-how required to commercialise it.
A 2027 Demonstration Vehicle
Li told reporters that BYD's battery subsidiary FinDreams will begin small-batch production of sulfide-based all-solid-state batteries — roughly 1,000 vehicles — in 2027, initially fitted to premium platforms including Denza, Yangwang and the off-road-oriented Fang Cheng Bao brand. Large-scale production is scheduled for 2030. The cells use a lithium-phosphorus-sulfur-chlorine (LPSC) inorganic electrolyte and target a cell-level energy density around 400 Wh/kg, roughly 50% above today's best liquid lithium-ion packs.
Manufacturing, Not Just Chemistry
Li's pitch to reporters was less about the chemistry itself and more about scaling it. "Any battery technology, I guarantee you will find in one corner of BYD R&D," she said, arguing that BYD's edge lies in solving the sulfide handling, moisture control and electrode-interface problems that have kept every solid-state programme in the lab. Rivals — including Toyota, Samsung SDI and China's Geely — are all chasing 2027-to-2030 windows of their own.
Why It Matters for Physical AI and EVs
Solid-state chemistry promises higher energy density, faster charging and non-flammable packs — attractive not just for premium EVs but for the humanoid-robot and drone-delivery workloads BYD has begun exploring, including its Xiao Di humanoid. If the 2027 vehicle demonstration lands on schedule, BYD will beat many Western manufacturers to a shipping SSB car by two to three years, tightening China's grip on next-generation battery IP and manufacturing.
Reporting based on coverage from Electrek, CarNewsChina and Fuel Cells Works.