Geely is preparing to cross an important internal milestone: completing production of its first in-house solid-state battery pack in 2026. While solid-state batteries have been promised for years across the EV industry, Geely’s announcement places it firmly among a growing group of Chinese automakers moving beyond lab research and toward real-world validation.
The plan, revealed during Geely’s five-year strategy briefing, is pragmatic rather than flashy. Once production of the all-solid-state pack is completed, the company will install it into an existing EV platform for verification testing. The battery itself is based on a lithium manganese iron phosphate chemistry and is expected to deliver around 15% higher energy density than conventional lithium-ion packs. That gain alone won’t revolutionize EV range overnight, but it represents a meaningful step forward when paired with improved safety and durability.
Geely now joins peers such as Dongfeng, FAW Group, and SAIC MG in signaling that solid-state batteries are transitioning from aspiration to engineering reality. Often described as the “holy grail” of EV batteries, solid-state technology promises more than just incremental gains. By replacing liquid electrolytes with solid materials, these batteries can be smaller, lighter, and less reliant on scarce or expensive materials. Just as importantly, they are far more resistant to thermal runaway — a safety advantage that could shape how automakers position them to consumers.
That safety narrative is likely to resonate strongly with Volvo, a brand whose identity has long been built around occupant protection and risk reduction. If and when a solid-state battery makes its way into a Volvo EV, safety may matter more than raw range numbers. Models like the EX90, XC70, and upcoming EX60 already deliver competitive performance, suggesting that battery innovation will be about refinement rather than reinvention.
Beyond Volvo, Geely’s wider portfolio tells an even bigger story. Sister brands such as Polestar and ZEEKR are already pushing advanced architectures, including 800V and 900V platforms. This suggests Geely is not developing solid-state batteries in isolation, but as part of a broader ecosystem designed to scale across multiple brands.
My view is that Geely’s real advantage lies in patience and integration. Rather than racing to be first, it appears focused on ensuring that solid-state technology fits cleanly into existing platforms and brand strategies. If that approach holds, solid-state batteries won’t arrive as a dramatic leap, but as a quiet upgrade that makes EVs safer, more efficient, and easier to trust. And in the long run, that kind of progress may matter more than bold promises ever could.
