SMM

[China Urges US to Halt 232 Tariff Measures As Soon As Possible]At a regular press conference of the Ministry of Commerce, a spokesperson stated that regarding the US's 232 tariffs on imported automobiles, steel, and aluminum, as well as the initiation of a 232 investigation into imported pharmaceuticals, China believes that the US's actions are typical unilateralist and protectionist moves. They not only harm the rights and interests of other countries and undermine the rules-based multilateral trading system, but also do not benefit the development of the US's own industries. China urges the US to halt the 232 tariff measures as soon as possible and properly address the concerns of all parties through equal dialogue. (Caijing)

[Expert: All-Solid-State Batteries Expected to Achieve Small-Scale Vehicle Integration Before 2030]Zheng Yali, Assistant to the Secretary General of the China Society of Automotive Engineers and Deputy Dean of the National Automotive Strategy Institute, stated at the opening ceremony of the CIBF 2025 Advanced Battery Frontier Technology Symposium that the selection of solid-state battery electrolytes needs to simultaneously consider factors such as conductivity, processability, stability, and manufacturing costs. Currently, there are two main technological routes closer to industrialisation: one is sulphide electrolytes, and the other is polymer composite electrolytes. The mass production and application of all-solid-state batteries still require key scientific breakthroughs at the material level and efficient production processes/cost reduction at the industrial level. It is expected that trial production lines for all-solid-state batteries will be established and prototype vehicles equipped with them will be launched around 2027, and small-scale mass production and vehicle integration of all-solid-state batteries may be achieved around 2030. (Science and Technology Innovation Board Daily)

[Geely Auto's Gui Shengyue: Confident in Exceeding Annual Sales Target]At Geely Auto's Q1 earnings conference, Gui Shengyue, the company's Administrative President and Executive Director, expressed confidence in achieving or exceeding the annual sales target. "As various integrations deepen, Geely Auto will continue to improve its profitability." Data shows that in Q1 2025, Geely Auto's sales reached 703,800 units, up 48% YoY, accounting for approximately 26% of the annual target. (Caijing)

[Japan Reportedly Seeking Third Round of Trade Talks with US Next Week, with Auto Tariffs as Key Issue]Akira Akazawa, Japan's Chief Trade Negotiator and Minister for Economic Revitalization, may head to Washington as early as next week to hold the third round of trade talks with the US. Japan's top concern is to secure the US's cancellation of hefty tariffs on automobiles and their parts, an industry that is a pillar of Japan's export-oriented economy. Sources said that the date of Akazawa's visit to the US has not yet been finalised and will depend on whether substantive progress can be made in staff-level consultations between the two countries.》Click to view details

[Academician Cheng Huiming of CAS: AI Empowers Rapid Iteration of Solid Electrolyte Material Systems]Academician Cheng Huiming of the Chinese Academy of Sciences stated that the core of solid-state batteries lies in solid electrolytes. Inorganic solid electrolytes suffer from poor interface contact and compatibility, while organic solid electrolytes exhibit poor ionic conductivity at room temperature. Currently, the two-dimensional organic sieve solid-state electrolyte under research in the laboratory boasts high ionic conductivity, a wide voltage window, low raw material costs, and compatibility with various cathodes. Additionally, AI is accelerating the rapid iteration of solid-state electrolyte material systems, and we hope to see results from this work next year. (Cailian Press)

[SVOLT Energy Technology: Second-generation Dragon Scale Armor Battery to Enter Mass Production in Mid-June]Yang Hongxin, Chairman of SVOLT Energy Technology, stated in an interview with Cailian Press that the company's second-generation Dragon Scale Armor Battery will enter mass production in mid-June and will soon be equipped in high-end MPVs, sedans, and SUVs. This battery is the world's largest 800V, 65kWh extended-range hybrid battery, offering a driving range exceeding 400KM, a peak fast-charging rate of 5C, a system energy density of 185kWh/kg, and a fast-charging cycle life of over 1,600 cycles, meeting the new national standards in advance. Furthermore, Yang Hongxin noted that ultra-fast charging and solid-state technologies represent the future evolution of batteries, with lamination being the optimal solution for transitioning ultra-fast charging and solid-state batteries to mass production. (Cailian Press)