First electric car with solid-state battery: MG4 with semi-solid-state battery ready for market approval

SAIC Motor is pushing ahead with the next, long-awaited technological step in the electric car sector: The MG4 will be equipped with a semi-solid-state battery for the first time in 2025 and is nearing market approval. According to MIIT via Electrek, the new variant has been added to the latest MIIT list of vehicles approved for sale in China. The manufacturer plans to announce pricing details in September and begin deliveries by the end of 2025.

MG4: First electric car with a solid-state battery

According to Electrive, SAIC itself has confirmed the schedule: The semi-solid-state battery will "first go into mass production in the new MG4", pricing will be announced in September, "batch deliveries" will begin afterwards, and pre-orders are already underway.

Step towards fully solid-state cell chemistry

The technology behind it remains conservative and builds on proven methods. According to MIIT via Electrek, a semi-solid-state system utilizes a significantly reduced electrolyte content in combination with solid components instead of a liquid electrolyte. This aims to achieve higher energy density, more robust safety properties and better cold tolerance without making the leap to fully solid-state cell chemistry. This step follows the industry's usual path of gradual maturity: first series production in large-scale vehicles, then scaling up.

Proven design

SAIC is sticking to proven concepts for the transition. The MG4 remains a compact five-door with two currently available LFP battery packs (42.8 kWh and 53.9 kWh) and CLTC ranges of 437 to 530 kilometers. The semi-solid-state variant will be introduced as an additional variant; details on capacity and standard range are expected to accompany the pricing announcement in September. The vehicle architecture continues to utilize SAIC's CTB (cell-to-body) approach and integrated thermal management, thus maintaining proven design principles.

Unresolved questions

There are still unanswered questions regarding the new battery concern the exact cell chemistry, packing density and charging performance. According to Electrek, it is a manganese-based lithium-ion variant supplied by Suzhou Qingtao Power Technology. The manufacturer will only provide precise information on capacity and charging times when the pricing is announced.

When will the solid-state battery launch internationally?

For potential buyers outside of China, it will be crucial when the new battery technology receives regional approval and appears on price lists. Currently, however, the focus is on the market launch in China and the global scaling of production.

Outlook

With the announced price disclosure in September and delivery start by the end of 2025, the MG4 may establish semi-solid-state technology in the mass market for the first time – a traditionally cautious but logical step towards higher energy density and more robust operation without abandoning proven production processes.