Key Transition from Lab to Engineering
According to the latest Global Solid-State Battery Industry Development Quarterly Report (Q2 2026) from TrendForce, the all-solid-state battery (ASSB) sector is entering a critical phase of engineering validation in 2026. Manufacturers such as Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and Samsung SDI have made slight progress in small-scale trial production of ASSBs, with Japanese players confirming some performance metrics for their automotive-grade products and accelerating the performance evaluation of vehicle-mounted ASSB modules.
TrendForce highlights that the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) for ASSBs has seen significant advancements in 2026. In core development regions like China, Japan, and South Korea, ASSB performance validation and confirmation have moved beyond the laboratory prototype stage (TRL 1-3). Some leading manufacturers are progressing toward TRL 5-6, indicating that the research focus is shifting from material performance breakthroughs in the lab to engineering manufacturing, product consistency, and automotive-grade certification.
Breakthroughs in Sample Performance and Expansion into High-Value Applications
In the first half of 2026, leading Japanese and South Korean manufacturers achieved breakthroughs in performance validation of ASSB samples from pilot production lines. Vehicle-mounted ASSB cells have completed partial performance and reliability confirmation, meeting design targets for key metrics such as charge-discharge performance and durability. For example, Nissan's thick 23-layer stacked structure automotive ASSB cells have completed charge-discharge testing, confirming superior capacity retention compared to traditional liquid lithium-ion batteries. Meanwhile, Chinese leaders such as CATL (300750.SZ), BYD (002594.SZ), and FAW (China FAW Group) are smoothly advancing small-scale ASSB pilot production lines, accelerating technology upgrades to TRL 4-5.
Alongside automotive certification, ASSB applications are expanding from electric vehicles to high-value-added sectors. According to TrendForce surveys, global manufacturers like Samsung SDI, Maxell, Ilika, ProLogium, and Factorial are seeing their solid-state battery (SSB) products target fields such as drones/eVTOL, microelectronics, construction machinery, and embodied intelligent robots. These sectors are witnessing landmark applications or order placements.
New Opportunities for Core Materials Like Lithium Sulfide
From a supply chain perspective, since 2025, industrial investment and capacity expansion in regions such as China, Japan, and South Korea have focused on core raw materials like solid electrolytes and lithium sulfide. TrendForce estimates that as of the first half of 2026, global installed capacity for lithium sulfide has exceeded 600 metric tons, with projections to significantly increase to the kiloton level by 2027. The sulfide-based route has become mainstream in the ASSB small-scale trial production and R&D phase, driving up demand for lithium sulfide while accelerating cost reductions. TrendForce notes that since 2026, monthly shipments of lithium sulfide from some manufacturers have jumped from "kilogram-level" to "metric ton-level," marking the first wave of market opportunities. Driven by cost reduction needs in the ASSB supply chain, the price of lithium sulfide has fallen by over 50% in the past six months, standing at approximately RMB 1,460 per kilogram in June. Overall, ASSB production is currently dominated by small-scale trial runs, resulting in relatively limited overall demand. However, if battery pack vehicle validation proceeds smoothly, demand for core materials is expected to grow significantly.