Samsung, BMW, and Solid Power Unite to Commercialize Next-Gen EV Batteries

Solid Power (NASDAQ:SLDP) shares surged over 20% in after-hours trading on Thursday, driven by a strategic collaboration with Samsung SDI and BMW Group to advance all-solid-state battery (ASSB) technology for electric vehicles. The partnership, announced by the companies and reported by The Korea Herald, marks a pivotal step toward commercializing the next-generation battery technology, which promises higher energy density, improved safety, and longer driving ranges compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries.

Under the agreement, Solid Power will supply its sulfide-based solid electrolyte to Samsung SDI, which will integrate the material into battery cells for testing with BMW. The cells will be evaluated for performance and suitability in a demonstration vehicle. BMW, a long-time partner of Samsung SDI since 2009, emphasized the collaboration as a "significant momentum" boost for its battery development efforts, according to The Korea Herald. Solid Power's CEO, John Van Scoter, told Investing.com that the partnership aims to bring ASSB technology closer to widespread adoption by leveraging the companies' combined expertise in materials science, battery manufacturing, and automotive integration. Samsung SDI and BMW's plan to jointly validate ASSBs was also reported by The Korea Times.

The collaboration aligns with broader industry trends toward safer, more efficient energy storage solutions. All-solid-state batteries replace volatile liquid electrolytes with solid materials, reducing the risk of thermal runaway and enabling lighter, more compact battery systems. Samsung SDI's Executive Vice President, Go Joo-young, stated the company aims to "take the lead in commercializing ASSB" by working with global partners, as reported by The Korea Herald. BMW's Vice President Martin Schuster added that the partnership underscores the automaker's commitment to delivering cutting-edge battery technology to customers, according to Morningstar.

Market reaction to the partnership was enthusiastic, with retail traders on platforms like Stocktwits describing the deal as "huge" and predicting further gains for Solid Power's stock. The stock had previously faced volatility, including a 7.4% drop earlier in the week due to mixed analyst ratings and earnings misses, according to MarketBeat. Solid Power's shares have gained 345% over the past year, according to InvestingPro data, as the company advances its electrolyte-focused business model.

The partnership also reflects growing global competition in the EV battery sector. SK On, a Samsung-affiliated company, recently announced it built a solid-state battery pilot line with Solid Power, as reported by The Elec. Meanwhile, rivals like QuantumScape are also expanding collaborations, such as its expanded agreement with Volkswagen's PowerCo, to accelerate solid-state commercialization, according to a Business Wire release.

Solid Power is scheduled to release its third-quarter 2025 earnings on November 4, which may provide additional insights into the partnership's financial implications, per a Business Wire announcement.