Samsung SDI joins BMW and Solid Power on all-solid-state batteries (ASSB) development

31 October 2025, 21:18:34

Add as a preferred source on Google Since 2022, the BMW Group and Solid Power, Inc. have intensified their collaboration to develop all-solid-state battery technology, advancing through a technology transfer agreement that recently culminated in the integration of Solid Power's large-format pure ASSB cells into a BMW i7 technology test vehicle.

In October 2025, Samsung SDI joined the effort, forming a three-way collaboration that combines the complementary strengths of an automaker, a solid-electrolyte developer, and a major battery manufacturer to accelerate development and validation of ASSB technology for automotive use.

Under the agreement, Solid Power will supply a sulfide-based solid electrolyte to Samsung SDI; Samsung SDI will incorporate that electrolyte into separators and/or catholytes and manufacture cells, subject to meeting agreed technical requirements.

The resulting cells will be evaluated against performance parameters and requirements to be defined between Samsung SDI and the BMW Group, with the shared objective of developing ASSB cells suitable for integration into a next generation of BMW evaluation vehicles

The partners point to the fundamental advantages of true all-solid-state batteries: the potential for higher energy density and improved safety by replacing liquid electrolytes with solid materials, which could enable longer driving ranges without proportionally increasing the weight of the storage system.

BMW and Solid Power have collaborated since 2016 under an extended Joint Development Agreement, with BMW investing in Solid Power during a May 2021 financing round and agreeing at the end of 2022 to deepen the partnership, including BMW operating a solid-state cell prototype line at the CMCC in Parsdorf under a research and development license supported by Solid Power's expertise.

The BMW Group has been building battery cell competence since 2008 and has concentrated that know-how at the Battery Cell Competence Center in Munich since 2019, covering the full value chain from research and development through battery cell design to production.

To implement battery cell innovations quickly and efficiently, the BMW Group cooperates with a network of roughly 300 partners, including established companies, start-ups and universities, which supports its strategy to compete on equal footing with leading cell manufacturers through deep in-house knowledge.

That strategic position secures BMW access to new and innovative battery cell research solutions worldwide and strengthens its role in the battery value chain.

The BMW Group, which includes the brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, is a leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and offers premium financial services, operating over 30 production sites with a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2024, the BMW Group sold over 2.45 million passenger vehicles and more than 210,000 motorcycles, reporting profit before tax of €11.0 billion on revenues of €142.4 billion and employing 159,104 people as of 31 December 2024; sustainability and long-term responsible action remain core elements of its corporate strategy across the product lifecycle.

Solid Power is developing solid-state battery technology for the next generation of batteries across EV and other markets, centering on a sulfide-based electrolyte material it believes can enable extended driving range, longer battery life, improved safety and lower cost versus conventional lithium-ion technology.

Solid Power’s business model focuses on selling its electrolyte to cell manufacturers and licensing cell designs and manufacturing processes, positioning the company to become a leading supplier and distributor of sulfide-based solid electrolyte material for EVs and other applications.

Samsung SDI, headquartered in the Republic of Korea, is a global battery and electronic materials manufacturer active in electric vehicles, energy storage systems and IT devices, pursuing transformation and innovation across e-mobility, energy solutions, semiconductors and displays while committing to source 100% renewable electricity across global operations by 2050.

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