The MG4 hatchback from SAIC Motor has been cleared by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) for sale with a semi-solid-state battery pack, the first time the technology will appear in a production EV.
Semi-solid-state batteries are moving from the lab to the showroom floor with SAIC Motor’s MG4, now cleared for sale as the first production electric vehicle to feature the technology.
Pre-orders opened earlier this month in China, with deliveries expected to begin before the end of 2025.
The new pack, supplied by Suzhou Qingtao Power Technology, is a manganese-based lithium-ion design that incorporates a small amount of liquid electrolyte, bridging today’s lithium-ion chemistries and the long-anticipated all-solid-state format. It replaces the lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery used in other MG4 trims and pairs with a single 120-kW front-mounted motor.
While specifications for energy capacity, range, and charging speed remain undisclosed, semi-solid-state batteries are expected to deliver higher energy density, improved safety, and better cold-weather performance compared with conventional packs.
The MG4 itself is dimensionally unchanged at 4,395 mm long, 1,842 mm wide, 1,551 mm tall, with a 2,750 mm wheelbase. The interior is expected to mirror the existing line-up, including a 15.6-inch infotainment screen and optional extras such as a 360-degree camera, radar systems, tinted roof, and privacy glass.
The current MG4 family offers battery capacities between 51 kWh and 77 kWh, with CLTC-rated ranges of 437 km to 530 km. If performance meets expectations, SAIC’s MG4 could become one of the first large-scale demonstrations of semi-solid-state batteries in action, offering both engineers and consumers an early look at how the technology scales in mass production.
Filed Under: Batteries, Technology News