Chery is developing solid-state batteries with a density of 400 Wh/kg. At the same time, it is forming a partnership with CATL.
On October 20, 2026, Chery unveiled another version of its Rhino battery development plan. It includes 12C liquid-electrolyte cells, a solid-state battery with an energy density of 400 Wh/kg, and the launch of a pilot production line in 2027. Meanwhile, the manufacturer is forming its second joint venture with CATL this year, as its own technology does not address the issue of production scale.
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12C and solid-state cells are two different technologies
The most impressive figure from Chery’s conference relates to conventional liquid-electrolyte cells. The manufacturer claims a peak charging speed of 12C and an average speed exceeding 8C. The C rating indicates how quickly a battery can accept energy relative to its capacity. Theoretically, 12C would mean a full charge in five minutes if such power could be maintained throughout the charging process.
That won’t happen. Chery only mentioned the peak value and didn’t provide the charging curve, system voltage, or cell temperature during testing. More importantly, the 12C parameters don’t apply to the promised Rhino S solid-state battery.
The Rhino S battery is supposed to achieve 400 Wh/kg and operate in temperatures ranging from -40 to 100 degrees Celsius. Chery also reported on its own thermal chamber test at 200 degrees, but without specifying the exposure time, charge level, or sample configuration. As a result, its results cannot be fairly compared to standardized safety tests.
The battery uses a sulfide electrolyte and a high-nickel cathode. This is a different project from Chery’s previously announced 600 Wh/kg technology, which relies on an electrolyte polymerized directly within the cell and a cathode rich in lithium and manganese. It’s not a simple jump from 400 to 600 Wh/kg, but rather the development of two distinct chemistries.
The most challenging task remains maintaining a stable contact between the solid electrolyte and electrodes throughout subsequent cycles. The company is also working on integrating the battery pack with its own DMS management system. The claimed range of 1500 km remains a development goal rather than a parameter for the final model.
Pilot line does not mean mass production
Chery has announced the launch of a pilot line for the Rhino S in 2027. It is unclear whether this refers to the plant with a capacity of 0.5 GWh, whose construction was completed in February 2026, or another facility. At the beginning of October, the manufacturer began bidding for equipment, suggesting that the path from a completed building to operational production is still underway.
Battery tests in vehicles are also set to begin in 2027. This is a separate phase and does not mean delivery to customers. An earlier plan called for the use of solid-state batteries by 2026, but the latest statements do not confirm the achievement of this deadline.
CATL and BYD have presented a similar timeline, aiming for limited production or validation of solid-state cells around 2027 as well. None of these announcements yet provide grounds for expecting mass-produced vehicles with solid electrolytes by that time.
The Rhino portfolio also includes batteries for hybrids, electric vehicles, and energy storage systems. According to Chery, the sodium-ion cells designed for stationary applications are expected to last up to 15,000 cycles. Rhino batteries are already used in the QQ3, Fulwin A9, and T7 models, featuring current liquid or semi-solid technologies rather than Rhino S. Chery’s own production capacity is set to reach 20 GWh per year by the end of 2027.
CATL will provide scale and a battery swap network
Meanwhile, Chery is expanding its partnership with China’s largest battery manufacturer. The new company, CATL Chery (Wuhu) New Energy Technology, was registered with a capital of 1 billion yuan, or about $149.5 million. CATL holds 51% of the shares, while Chery owns the remaining 49%. The business scope includes battery and component production, energy storage, and trading, but the production capacity of the Wuhu facility has not yet been disclosed.
This is already the second joint venture between the two companies in 2026. In February, Times Chery was established in Hefei with a capital of 2 billion yuan, or about $298.3 million. The first phase of that facility is set to achieve 40 GWh of production capacity per year.
The partnership isn’t limited to factories. Chery aims to adapt its vehicles for the Choco-Swap battery swapping system. By the end of September 2026, CATL had 2,520 stations across all 31 provincial regions in China and plans to raise this number to 3,000 by the end of the year.
The SOFC system was also presented at the conference, which refers to a high-temperature fuel cell for stationary power generation. The materials describe electrical efficiencies of 60 percent and 90 percent with simultaneous heat utilization. However, sources disagree on a key aspect: one indicates ammonia as the fuel, while another cites hydrogen. Without complete documentation, it’s impossible to determine which version Chery actually intends to commercialize.
The manufacturer’s strategy is more practical than the claims of 400 Wh/kg. Chery is developing its own battery cells, but it relies on CATL to handle current production scale, deliveries, and battery swaps. It will be the road tests in 2027 that determine whether the Rhino S is more than just a promising prototype.
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