Hyundai Delays Solid-State EV Battery Launch Until 2030 as Competitors Advance

Hyundai Delays Solid-State EV Batteries as Competitors Advance

Hyundai Motor Group, which includes Kia, has announced that it does not anticipate launching solid-state EV batteries before 2030, at the earliest. The company has expressed that there is “a lot of uncertainty” surrounding this promising new battery technology. Meanwhile, competitors like Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Stellantis, Honda, and Chinese battery manufacturers CATL and BYD are racing to be the first to bring what many consider the “holy grail” of battery technology to market.

Timeline for Hyundai’s Solid-State Batteries

During Kia’s 2025 EV Day, Spencer Cho, Hyundai Motor’s global production planning chief, provided insight into the complexities of solid-state battery technology. He stated that Hyundai does not expect to commercialize these batteries for Kia electric vehicles until 2030, and potentially even later. “I don’t think we can commercialize these batteries before 2030,” Cho remarked, indicating that the timeline remains uncertain. He further explained, “Once our engineers believe we have credible technologies that we can bring, then we might produce them on our own.”

In the meantime, Hyundai and Kia are focusing on enhancing existing battery technologies, such as lower-cost lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and lithium nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) batteries.

Competitors Making Progress

While Hyundai and Kia are still in development, several competitors have unveiled plans for solid-state batteries. Cho noted that it remains to be seen which companies can successfully deliver this technology at a mass scale. Recently, Mercedes-Benz announced it has begun testing what it claims to be the “world’s first” production EV powered by a solid-state battery. This modified EQS model is projected to achieve a range of over 621 miles.

Mercedes-Benz has partnered with US-based Factorial Energy since 2021 to advance this new battery technology. In September, they introduced the more advanced “Solstice” battery, which is expected to enhance driving range by 80% compared to current lithium-ion batteries, suggesting a range of over 620 miles.

Stellantis is also collaborating with Factorial to produce a fleet of electric Dodge Chargers, set to debut in 2026. These EV muscle cars will utilize Factorial’s FEST (Factorial Electrolyte System Technology), boasting an energy density of over 390 Wh/kg.

Developments in Japan and China

Japanese automotive giants like Toyota, Honda, and Nissan are also investing heavily in solid-state battery technology for their future electric models. Honda recently showcased its all-solid-state battery demo production line for the first time in November. Meanwhile, Toyota is partnering with Japanese oil company Idemitsu to commercialize its solid-state batteries. This collaboration recently announced plans for a large-scale lithium sulfide plant to supply raw materials for Toyota’s all-solid-state batteries.

Toyota and Idemitsu aim to commence commercial production by 2027 or 2028, with mass production expected to follow in 2030 or later. Notably, global battery leaders CATL and BYD are also intensifying their efforts in this area. Recently, Sun Huajun, CTO of BYD’s battery division, stated that the company anticipates launching its first all-solid-state battery-powered EV by 2027, although like many others, they do not expect mass production until 2030 at the earliest.

Interestingly, local reports suggest that Hyundai may reveal its all-solid-state battery pilot line in March, indicating that more information could be forthcoming soon.