MG Motor, a division of China’s SAIC Motor, has unveiled a new semi-solid-state battery technology, branded SolidCore, alongside the opening of a European engineering centre, as the company accelerates development of next-generation EV energy storage systems.
MG’s ‘in Europe, for Europe’ strategy
The new engineering facility, located in Frankfurt, Germany, will support vehicle and powertrain development tailored to European requirements, working in conjunction with MG’s existing engineering base in Longbridge, UK and its design team in London. But the cars themselves will continue to be manufactured in China.
Central to the announcement is the SolidCore battery, a semi-solid-state lithium-based system that integrates elements of solid electrolyte technology within a hybrid architecture. The approach is designed to bridge the gap between conventional lithium-ion batteries and fully solid-state systems, which remain several years from large-scale commercialisation.
MG said the SolidCore design offers improvements in safety, energy density and charging performance compared with current liquid-electrolyte batteries. By reducing the proportion of flammable liquid electrolyte, the technology is intended to lower the risk of thermal runaway while enabling more stable operation across a wider range of temperatures.
The company plans to introduce the battery in series production vehicles for the European market from 2026, with initial deployment expected in compact electric models, such as the recently introduced MG4 Urban.
While detailed specifications have not been disclosed, MG indicated that the technology could deliver longer driving range and faster charging times than existing lithium iron phosphate (LFP) systems, positioning it as a competitive option in the next phase of EV battery development.
The launch reflects growing industry momentum behind semi-solid-state designs as an interim step towards fully solid-state batteries, offering incremental performance gains without the manufacturing and cost challenges associated with all-solid systems.
Photo: © MG Motor
