[A BMW being charged. Photo Credit: Pixabay]

On October 31, 2025, Samsung SDI signed a trilateral agreement to work on an all-solid-state battery validation project with BMW Group, a premium automaker in Germany, and Solid Power, a battery technology business based in the United States.

This collaborative endeavor seeks to develop and confirm this next-generation battery technology for the automotive industry.

Under this arrangement, BMW will create modules and packs based on Samsung SDI's all-solid-state battery cells, which use solid electrolytes created by Solid Power to increase energy density and safety.

To confirm real-world performance, the three businesses' ultimate goal is to put all-solid-state batteries in BMW's upcoming test cars.

Unlike traditional lithium-ion batteries, which utilize liquid electrolytes, all-solid-state batteries employ solid electrolytes. 

When placed in electric vehicles, they can be lighter than lithium-ion batteries of the same capacity while increasing driving range because they are safer and have a higher energy density than current batteries.

Since solid state batteries offer more safety than current technology by substituting solid materials for liquid electrolytes, the partnership may be a significant breakthrough for the car industry.

Samsung SDI has been consistently working on enhancing its competitiveness for the commercialization of all-solid-state batteries. 

At the Samsung SDI research facility in Suwon, the company established the first pilot plant for all-solid-state batteries in the battery industry in March 2023 and started producing prototypes at the end of that year. 

It is currently testing and providing samples of all-solid-state batteries to several clients.

By combining their complementary skills in cell manufacturing, automaking, and materials development, the three specialized businesses have established a workable collaboration system and a model for global value chains for ASSB cells, with the goal of paving the way for their commercialization.

BMW stated that it selected Samsung SDI as a partner due to a long-standing relationship built through years of collaboration.

Since the German automaker chose the Korean battery supplier in 2009, Samsung SDI and BMW have maintained their partnership.

Technological competitiveness in batteries is widely recognized as a key driver of innovation in electric vehicles.

This international cooperation underscores BMW's core objective, which is to always be able to provide its clients with cutting-edge battery technology.

Samsung SDI is known for its technological competence in the entire new battery area and is also considered the leader in the all-solid-state battery market.

In 2024, Samsung SDI announced plans to begin mass production of solid-state cells by 2027.

Over the years, Samsung SDI has focused on increasing battery capacity through cell expansion and to finish duties related to setting up supply chains and production procedures for commercialization.

The company is also in talks with potential clients and is stepping up efforts to commercialize ASSB cells because there are plans for the adoption of ASSBs not just for EVs but also for robots and other novel applications.

Since 2008, BMW has been honing its expertise in battery cell technology, and since 2019, it has combined this expertise at its Battery Cell Competence Center (BCCC) in Munich.

BMW collaborates with over 300 partners, including Solid Power and Samsung SDI.