Li Auto expects solid-state batteries ready for limited vehicle deployment in 2027 or 2028 — but a company executive says mature mass production for automotive use remains roughly five years away, a gap that frames the entire Chinese solid-state race.

Liu Zhimin, the Beijing-based automaker's senior director of power batteries, laid out the timeline in remarks reported by Chinese outlet Cailian on Tuesday, citing a company insider for the deployment window. Li Auto has several solid-state battery projects under development and has validated prototypes in eyewear products, Liu said.

"Challenges remain in simultaneously meeting requirements for lifespan, charging performance and cost with solid-state batteries," he said.

The distinction matters. Limited deployment in 2027 or 2028 would not mean the batteries could be widely used in production models by then. Mature mass production with a consistent, reliable user experience is a separate stage, and Liu puts it five years out.

The eyewear validation is real hardware. Li Auto launched its Livis smart glasses in December 2025, though it did not highlight the device's use of solid-state batteries at the time.

In-house cell push

The solid-state work sits inside a broader in-house battery strategy. On September 7, Li Auto said its self-developed batteries were already used in the Li L8, Li L6 and Li i8, with deployment set to extend gradually across the lineup.

The company began developing battery cells in-house in 2020, covering 5C cells, battery packs and battery management systems. Production runs through a joint venture established in 2025 with Sunwoda (SZSE: 300207), each side holding a 50% stake.

Li Auto is also deepening its financial ties with the manufacturer. Sunwoda disclosed on September 4 that Li Auto planned to invest in Sunwoda Electric Vehicle Battery Co Ltd (Sunwoda EVB), taking a direct 8.79% stake upon completion and becoming the company's second-largest single shareholder.

A crowded 2027 line

Several Chinese automakers and battery makers have set milestones around 2027, though gaps remain between vehicle validation, limited deployment and large-scale commercialization.

Chery Auto (HKEX: 9973) said on September 3 that it plans to begin vehicle validation of all-solid-state batteries in 2027, with solid-liquid hybrid batteries scheduled for vehicle installation in the fourth quarter of 2026 as a transitional solution.

CATL (HKEX: 3750) chief scientist Wu Kai said in 2024 that the company aimed for the technical readiness required for small-batch production of all-solid-state batteries in 2027, while large-scale production would still face cost challenges.

CATL chairman Robin Zeng offered the sharpest calibration in June this year: solid-state technology sits at level 4 on a one-to-nine maturity scale, with level 9 representing readiness for mass production.

What to watch: whether Li Auto names a vehicle program for the 2027-28 window, how quickly the Sunwoda EVB stake closes, and whether Chery's hybrid-cell Q4 2026 installation date holds as the industry's first solid-state-adjacent production marker.