BMW teams up with Solid Power and Samsung SDI to advance ASSB development

BMW Group, Solid Power and Samsung SDI join forces to accelerate all-solid-state battery development, aiming for higher energy density and safer EV performance.

BMW Group, Solid Power and Samsung SDI have announced a new stage in the development of all-solid-state batteries, marking another step toward large-scale automotive use of ASSB technology. The three companies will combine their strengths: Solid Power will supply its sulfide-based solid electrolyte, Samsung SDI will integrate it into separators and catholytes, and BMW will conduct testing and evaluation of the assembled cells for potential series applications.

The collaboration builds on a partnership between BMW and Solid Power that began in 2016. Since then, the two companies have advanced from lab experiments to integrating large-format “pure” solid-state cells into a BMW i7 test vehicle. The next step will be to analyze performance and durability of the new cells produced by Samsung SDI using Solid Power’s materials and know-how.

For BMW, Samsung SDI’s involvement provides a major boost. As Martin Schuster, Vice President Battery Cell and Cell Module at BMW Group, notes, bringing together the expertise of three industry leaders will give the project new momentum. Meanwhile, BMW continues to strengthen its in-house capabilities: the Battery Cell Competence Center (BCCC) in Munich covers the full value chain, and a prototype line for solid-state cells is operating at the CMCC facility in Parsdorf.

Solid Power is expanding production of its sulfide electrolyte and has received support from the U.S. Department of Energy to scale the process through a continuous manufacturing approach. Samsung SDI, for its part, has set a goal of starting mass production of ASSBs in 2027 and is already supplying prototype samples to OEM partners.

ASSB technology promises higher energy density and enhanced safety by replacing liquid electrolytes with solid materials. If ongoing tests confirm expectations, the new architecture could form the foundation for BMW’s next generation of electric vehicles. For now, the project remains in the evaluation phase — yet the scale of collaboration suggests that commercial applications may not be far off.