On the eve of mass production of all-solid-state batteries, how can the lubricant industry break the deadlock and embrace change?

GAC Group’s pilot production line for all-solid-state batteries has been officially completed and put into operation, marking a crucial step toward the large-scale mass production of automotive-grade all-solid-state batteries. Amid the electrification wave, the traditional lubricants industry is shifting from “passive adaptation” to “proactive empowerment.”

Recently, Feng Xingya, Chairman of GAC Group, announced at the 23rd Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition that the pilot production line for all-solid-state batteries, built by GAC Group in Panyu, Guangzhou, has been officially completed and put into operation. This production line has successfully established a complete manufacturing process for all-solid-state batteries, making GAC Group the **first in the industry to meet the conditions for large-scale mass production of automotive-grade all-solid-state batteries with capacities exceeding 60 Ah**.

This marks a crucial step forward for GAC toward its goal of equipping vehicles with all-solid-state batteries by 2026.

Meanwhile, Guoxuan High-Tech also announced that its first all-solid-state pilot production line has been officially completed, with a designed capacity of 0.2 GWh, and unveiled the G-Yuan quasi-solid-state battery, which boasts a range of up to 1,000 kilometers. The accelerated commercialization of all-solid-state batteries is having a profound impact on the entire automotive industry chain.

01 Industry Transformation: All-Solid-State Batteries Break Through Mass-Production Bottlenecks

The pilot production line is a stage that verifies the production process, optimizes parameters, and enhances product quality and stability before formal mass production begins. It serves as a critical transitional phase from laboratory R&D to large-scale mass production.

The commissioning of GAC Group’s pilot production line for all-solid-state batteries marks a crucial step toward shifting all-solid-state battery production from “sample manufacturing” to “mass production.”

Energy density exceeds 400 Wh/kg These are the performance indicators achieved by GAC Group’s independently developed high-capacity all-solid-state battery, which easily passes rigorous safety tests such as the 200℃ thermal chamber test and the nail-penetration test.

This density is nearly twice as high as that of conventional batteries, enabling vehicles with a 500-kilometer range to achieve a range of **over 1,000 kilometers**.

Thanks to their higher safety and greater energy density, all-solid-state batteries have become the industry’s focal point of intense competition and strategic deployment. However, large-scale mass production of these batteries still faces multiple challenges.

Pan Ruijun, head of solid-state battery R&D at Guoxuan High-Tech, frankly admitted: “It’s still too early for solid-state batteries to enter true mass production—Guoxuan is just a bit ahead of the curve. Right now, whether domestically or internationally, virtually all players in the industry who are working on solid-state batteries are still relying on manual processes.”

02 Role Redefinition: The Lubricants Industry Faces Transformation Challenges

Driven by the dual forces of the "dual carbon" goals and the wave of automotive electrification, China's new-energy vehicle penetration rate historically surpassed 35% in the first half of 2025, with pure-electric models accounting for 28% and hybrid models experiencing growth exceeding 40%.

Behind this data, core technologies such as electric drive systems and battery thermal management are undergoing a comprehensive transformation.

The role of lubricants as the fundamental functional fluid for mechanical friction is also being redefined. The lubricant industry and market are undergoing a triple-value restructuring:

Reimagining the character Lubricants are shifting from general-purpose products to specialized systems, and from mere auxiliary support to system-wide collaboration. Thanks to technological breakthroughs, the Chinese market has become a global leader in innovation and technological advancement.

Expansion of industry boundaries From a single lubrication service, the industry is expanding into diversified services. Industry experts point out that lubricants have evolved from being merely “buffers” against mechanical friction to becoming powerful technological support for enhancing vehicle energy efficiency, controlling environmental impact, and ensuring stable system operation.

03 Technological Breakthrough: Lubrication Technology Opens Up Four New Growth Areas

Faced with the transformation brought about by new-energy vehicles, the lubricant industry has opened up four new growth areas:

• The “Ultimate Efficiency Revolution” in Electric Drive Systems As the rotational speeds of new-energy vehicle motors generally exceed 16,000 rpm, the viscosity characteristics of conventional gear oils have become increasingly inadequate to simultaneously balance heat dissipation efficiency and lubrication stability at high speeds. Through fluid dynamics optimization, the industry has developed an ultra-low-viscosity gearbox oil formulation, achieving a critical breakthrough in addressing the coupled issues of gear-shaft friction power loss and motor temperature rise.
• “Safety Protection Upgrade” for Battery Thermal Management The temperature sensitivity of power batteries poses a dual challenge to thermal management fluids: they must not only exhibit chemical stability under high-temperature conditions exceeding 120℃, but also provide long-term corrosion protection in complex piping systems. A new battery coolant, through innovative material formulations, simultaneously enhances fire resistance, heat dissipation efficiency, and corrosion resistance.
• “Extreme Condition Adaptation” for Hybrid Systems Hybrid vehicle engines experience a daily start-stop frequency exceeding 200 times, placing stringent demands on the lubricant’s viscosity-temperature characteristics and anti-emulsification performance. Specialized lubrication technology achieves breakthroughs in both the cold-start response speed at -30°C and lubrication stability under high-temperature operating conditions by enhancing low-temperature fluidity and increasing the strength of the oil film at high temperatures.
• “Zero-Carbon Lubrication Exploration” in the Hydrogen Energy Field The fuel cell stack system of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles places revolutionary demands on the electrical conductivity and material compatibility of the medium. The successful development of a low-conductivity thermal management fluid has broken through the insulation-performance bottleneck of conventional lubricating media, laying a critical technological foundation for the large-scale application of hydrogen-powered heavy-duty commercial vehicles and other similar scenarios.

04 Ecological Integration: From “Going It Alone” to “Co-evolution”

Industry analysis indicates that companies should focus on four strategic technology areas: enhancing engine energy efficiency, developing specialized lubricants for new-energy and hybrid vehicles, multi-fuel compatibility technologies, and aftermarket innovation.

“The essence of technological innovation lies in shifting from passive following to systematic leadership. Driven by regulations and new energy sources, multiple new technologies are being applied simultaneously, requiring even faster responses in technology development,” emphasized a technical expert in the industry.

In terms of energy efficiency for mainstream passenger car engines in China, the figure has steadily risen from 33% in 2010 to 45% by 2025, implying dramatic changes in both engine operating conditions and lubricant formulation requirements.

In 2015, China’s annual sales of new-energy vehicles stood at just 330,000 units, but by 2024, sales had surged to nearly **13 million units**.

The lubricant industry needs to simultaneously focus on the technological development of pure electric drive oils as well as integrated insulation and cooling solutions, and also on the challenges that hybrid vehicles pose to engine performance.

05 Future Path: China’s Standards Lead a New Global Lubrication Paradigm

In building an industry ecosystem, the lubricants industry needs to establish three key pillars: **technological collaboration, co-creation of standards, and tackling critical technological challenges.**

Industry experts stated: “China is not only a source of technological innovation but also a key player in global standard-setting. We need to rely on an agile system that integrates R&D, testing, and services, and work together to co-create standards that will help Chinese technological solutions go global.”

China has taken the lead in developing several key standards, including the world’s first standard for pure-electric transmission oil (NB/SH/T6042-2021) and electric vehicle coolant (NB/SH/T6047-2021).

Leveraging its standardization advantages, domestic products have entered the supply chains of international automakers and now account for **23% of the global new-energy lubrication market**.

Breakthroughs have also been made in the development of bio-based lubricants; one particular bio-based lubricant boasts a bio-based content of 89%, reducing carbon emissions by 10% compared to conventional products.

It employs straw-to-biofuel conversion technology to achieve zero-pollution production and has been certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), making it the first passenger car lubricant in China to receive this certification.

The industrialization of all-solid-state batteries is not just a transformation for the battery industry. Moreover, it serves as a pivotal hub driving the upgrading of the entire automotive industry chain. From GAC Group to Guoxuan High-Tech, breakthroughs achieved in the field of all-solid-state batteries herald the imminent arrival of an era when electric vehicles can achieve a range of 1,000 kilometers.

Faced with this transformation, the lubricants industry must break away from the “one-barrel-of-oil” business model and integrate into the full lifecycle service ecosystem for automobiles.

As industry experts put it: “This extension of boundaries is not merely an expansion of business scope; it’s also a rebirth and reconfiguration of the value chain.”