Japan hoped to turn the tide with next-generation solid-state batteries. It invested heavily in this technology. However, China is rapidly catching up. According to data from Wisdom Bud, as of May 16, 2025, global patent applications in the solid-state battery field exceeded 46,000. Nearly 37% of these patents came from Japan, while almost 30% came from China. The gap between the two is narrowing. In market positioning, China has surpassed Japan. It now holds about 35% of global solid-state battery patent applications.
A journalist tracked global solid-state battery patent applications from September 2022 to now. They found that China accelerated its efforts in this field over the past three years. Chinese companies narrowed the patent application gap with Japan, but Japan still holds a clear advantage among leading companies. The China-Japan solid-state battery competition began early. Japan was one of the first countries to invest in batteries. In the 1990s, Panasonic, Sanyo, and Sony formed the original “big three.” By the early 2000s, Japanese companies produced nearly 90% of the world’s lithium batteries, creating a near monopoly. The turning point came after 2010 with a surge in power battery production. Before 2010, Japanese automotive giants, led by Toyota, believed hydrogen fuel cell vehicles were the future. This belief caused Japan to focus on hydrogen fuel cells, neglecting investment in lithium-ion batteries. In contrast, China’s new energy vehicle market thrived, supported by strong policies and a vast market. This propelled Chinese power battery companies forward. According to SNE Research, the top ten global power battery sales in 2024 will still be dominated by companies from China, South Korea, and Japan. Six Chinese companies made the list, increasing their global market share to 67.1%. Only Panasonic represents Japan in the top ten, with its market share dropping from 6.1% in 2023 to 3.9% in 2024. A senior executive from a new solid-state battery company told the journalist, “Japan needs to look at next-generation battery technology to turn things around.” The industry recognizes solid-state batteries as the next-generation technology. Japan once invested heavily in this area. As of September 2022, nearly 45% of global solid-state battery patent applications came from Japanese companies, while Chinese companies accounted for 21.8%. The gap was significant. Since then, Chinese companies have caught up. Meanwhile, the share of Japanese companies in solid-state battery patent applications has continued to decline. By May 2025, Japanese companies will hold about 37% of global solid-state battery patent applications, while Chinese companies will rise to nearly 30%. As of September 2022, Japan leads in global solid-state battery patents, accounting for around 30.4%. China follows with about 26.2%. By May 2024, this situation will reverse. China will dominate the market with approximately 31.4% of patents, while Japan will hold about 27%. By May 2025, the gap will widen further. China will have around 35% of solid-state battery patents, and Japan will have about 25%. In addition to the China-Japan competition, South Korea will lag behind in solid-state battery patents. The top three countries will shift to China, Japan, and the United States. The United States will show significant ambition in solid-state batteries. By May 2025, U.S. companies will account for about 11% of global solid-state battery patents. The U.S. market will represent 13% of global patent layouts. These figures place the U.S. third, behind China and Japan. Japanese leading companies will still maintain a clear advantage. In the realm of solid-state battery patents, Chinese companies are catching up quickly. However, top Japanese firms will still hold a substantial lead. Leading Chinese companies in solid-state battery patents include CATL, BYD, Hive Energy, Qingtao Energy, and Guoxuan High-Tech. As of May 16, CATL and its affiliates have over 170 solid-state battery patent applications, with more than 40 authorized invention patents. BYD and its affiliates have over 90 solid-state battery patent applications, with more than 40 authorized invention patents. Guoxuan High-Tech and its affiliates have over 120 solid-state battery patent applications, with more than 20 authorized invention patents. Honeycomb Energy and its affiliates have over 150 solid-state battery patent applications, with more than 60 authorized invention patents. In the solid-state battery sector, leading Japanese companies include Panasonic, Nissan, Toyota, and Honda. Toyota stands out as the absolute leader in this field. As of May 16, Toyota and its affiliates have over 2,100 solid-state battery patent applications, with more than 1,200 authorized invention patents. Panasonic and its affiliates have over 910 solid-state battery patent applications, with more than 330 authorized invention patents. Nissan and its affiliates have over 420 solid-state battery patent applications, with more than 200 authorized invention patents. Honda and its affiliates have over 290 solid-state battery patent applications, with 110 authorized invention patents. In terms of all-solid-state battery applications, Japan and China compete for early deployment. In February, BYD Lithium Battery Co., Ltd. CTO Sun Huajun announced that BYD plans to start mass demonstration vehicle applications around 2027 and achieve large-scale deployment after 2030. GAC Group announced plans to achieve vehicle deployment by 2026. Changan Automobile plans to unveil its all-solid-state prototype in 2025, complete vehicle validation in 2026, and gradually advance mass production in 2027. SAIC Group President Jia Jianxu revealed that SAIC’s first all-solid-state battery, the “Guangqi Battery,” will launch in 2027. Among the three major Japanese automakers, Toyota plans small-scale production of solid-state batteries by 2025. It aims for stable mass production before 2030. Nissan plans to establish and operate a solid-state battery pilot production plant in 2025. It will apply the technology in cars by 2028 and gradually achieve mass production. Last November, Honda announced it will start pilot production of solid-state batteries in January 2025. Honda expects to achieve mass production for its solid-state batteries before 2030.
Xiao Yisi