MG Will Introduce Solid-State Battery Tech Next Year

Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), the owners of MG, say they will equip EVs with solid-state batteries within 12 months.

A spokesperson for the company said recently that its solid-state battery technology will launch in an MG model. It will then be shared with the rest of the SAIC brands.

While the exact model isn’t yet clear, the company will launch the tech in Q2 2025, and that model will go on sale later in the year.

This advances the company’s planned introduction of solid-state tech by more than 12 months. It also means MG will beat Volkswagen to the punch, shifting to solid-state battery technology for volume models sooner.  

Another SAIC brand, IM Motor, has already said that its new L6 saloon will have a first-generation solid-state battery. It was jointly developed by SAIC in partnership with battery specialist Jiangsu Qingtao.

Dubbed the ‘Lightyear’ battery, its makers claim it has twice the energy density of an LFP battery. With total capacity of 133kWh, the official range of the L6 Saloon is 1077km on China’s test cycle. Moreover, a high-power DC charger can add 400km of range in 12min.

No details of MG’s first solid-state battery are available as yet. However, it is understood to be similar to IM Motor’s battery pack and operates on an 800V architecture.

Given MG will be the first to get the SS battery pack, this suggests a steep production increase of the new technology. The goal is achieving important economies of scale across its brands. SAIC expects solid-state batteries to offer cost savings of up to 30 per cent over LFP batteries.

After discussing SS battery plans, the MG spokesperson also said a new MG S5 medium-sized electric SUV is soon launching, with exports starting next year. 

Said to be 4476mm long, it should be on sale in major markets by this time next year, with a choice of single- and dual-motor drivetrains and LFP battery chemistry.