Factorial Energy and SK On have agreed to study whether existing battery plants could be adapted for solid-state cells, a move that could affect how next-generation batteries reach global markets. The deal underscores a broader industry push to scale cleaner, denser energy storage through established manufacturing networks, rather than entirely new factories.
LG Energy Solution has filed patent infringement proceedings against Chinese battery maker EVE Energy in the US over cylindrical lithium-ion battery technologies, seeking relief through both the US International Trade Commission and the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.
CATL reported a 42% rise in first-half 2026 net profit as electric-vehicle and energy-storage battery shipments surged, although weaker margins and intense storage pricing highlighted the cost of sustaining its global lead.
Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz are reshaping their growth strategies as the global auto market enters a low-growth era, with profitability under pressure and EV demand slowing. Instead of chasing volume, the three German automakers are focusing on multi-powertrain platforms, deeper AI integration, and cross-border partnerships.
A quality scandal is spreading around lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries made by China Aviation Lithium Battery (CALB). Ride-hailing and taxi versions of GAC Aion's Aion S have suffered cell swelling, electrolyte leakage and insulation failures, an issue estimated to affect more than 210,000 vehicles. CALB was adopted by automakers such as GAC as an alternative to Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd. (CATL), the world's largest battery maker, as part of a broader industry effort to reduce reliance on a single dominant vendor. The current crisis is now sparking backlash against that diversification strategy.
Sumitomo Chemical plans to begin mass production of a halide-based solid electrolyte in Japan as early as fiscal 2028, positioning the material as a potentially lower-cost option for all-solid-state batteries while seeking performance comparable with leading sulfide-based electrolytes, Nikkei reported.
China is dismantling the tax shelter that helped build the world's largest battery industry, and the move looks less like a one-off revenue measure than the opening of a broad campaign to force consolidation across its clean-energy supply chains — with consequences that reach from Chinese carmakers to global energy-storage buyers.
Gotion High-Tech said its first-half earnings are set to rise sharply, a result that could matter for battery investors and electric-vehicle supply chains worldwide. The Chinese maker cited stronger sales, product upgrades, overseas expansion, and gains from stock investments, while warning the figures are still preliminary and unaudited.
