Factorial delivers 106+ amp-hour solid-state cells to Mercedes-Benz to validate for EV use
Seven months after shipping out A-samples of its 100+ amp-hour (Ah) solid-state battery cells to automotive partners, Factorial Inc. is sending more energy-dense B-samples to Mercedes-Benz. Through a joint development agreement with Factorial, Mercedes will further validate the next phase of solid-state batteries, moving one step closer to integration in future passenger EVs.
Factorial Inc. is a solid-state battery developer based in Massachusetts that specializes in energy-dense cell technology for EV applications. For years, we’ve been following the progress of its flagship product, the 100 Amp-hour (Ah) Factorial Electrolyte System Technology (FEST) solid-state cell, as the company continues to push forward to scaled integration with automotive partners.
Factorial’s battery technology has been cleverly designed to be compatible with existing lithium-ion battery manufacturing equipment, enabling automakers to transition the next-generation lithium-metal cells more seamlessly.
The solid-state cells have already been UN-certified, and A-samples began being shipped out to OEM partners in October of 2023. Factorial is expanding cell development and production at a brand-new facility in its home state, and this past April, it announced a memorandum of understanding with battery veteran LG Chem to expedite the process.
Today, Factorial has announced another key milestone: it will deliver its next wave of solid-state samples to its development partner and notable automotive name, Mercedes-Benz.
Mercedes to further validate Factorial’s solid-state cells
Per Factorial Inc., its lithium-metal B-sample solid-state battery cells have successfully been delivered to Mercedes-Benz as part of an ongoing joint development agreement. Factorial states this is the world’s first (announced) B-sample shipment of solid-state battery cells to a global automotive OEM.
Factorial delivered over 1,000 100+Ah solid-state cells to Mercedes-Benz as part of the aforementioned A-sample phase. Today, it is touting its B-sample delivery as another critical milestone, arguing its case as a key provider of solid-state technology to leading automakers exploring next-generation batteries and demonstrating its ability to produce the cells at high volume. Factorial co-founder and CEO Siyu Huang elaborated:
We are thrilled to advance to the B-sample phase and to mark this milestone with a global automotive leader like Mercedes-Benz. This swift progression from A-sample to B-sample delivery in under a year highlights Factorial’s rapid innovation capabilities and we continue to push the envelope to accelerate the adoption of solid-state batteries in the automotive sector. As a U.S. cell maker, we believe our high energy density cell will help build more efficient and sustainable vehicles that will set new standards for electric vehicle range, cost and performance globally.
With the slightly more energy-dense B-sample solid-state cells in its possession, Mercedes will integrate them into EV modules and battery packs for extensive testing and optimization, with hopes to one day offer them to consumers in passenger vehicles. Chief technology officer and member of the board of Management at Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Markus Schäfer, also spoke:
We are committed to leading in innovative battery technologies, and our partnership with Factorial is a significant part of this strategy. These B-sample batteries give us the opportunity to further validate this next-generation battery technology with the goal of enhancing range and performance, reducing overall vehicle costs, and offering the most desirable electric vehicles to our customers.
In addition to validating the next wave of solid-state cells, Mercedes said it will monitor Factorial’s supply chain and manufacturing processes to ensure genuine scalability should the German automaker pursue future vehicle testing and a rollout to the EV market.
Factorial also has joint development agreements with Stellantis, Hyundai Motor Company, and Kia Corporation. There is no word on if and when those other OEMs will see the B-sample cells, but we expect them also to explore the plausibility of integration in their respective EVs.
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Chinese electric scooter manufacturer NIU Technologies (NASDAQ: NIU) is experiencing a remarkable surge in 2025, with its stock price nearly doubling year-to-date. This impressive performance is fueled by a significant increase in electric moped sales, particularly within its domestic market, despite facing challenges such as international tariffs and rising freight costs.
Domestic market is driving growth
In the first quarter of 2025, NIU reported a 57.4% year-over-year increase in e-scooter sales, totaling 203,313 units. Notably, 183,065 of these units were sold in China, marking a 66.2% increase compared to the same period last year.
This domestic growth was boosted by China’s consumer trade-in program, which incentivizes the replacement of older scooters with newer, more efficient models.
The company’s revenue for Q1 2025 reached RMB 682.0 million (approximately US $94 million), a 35.1% increase from the previous year. However, the average revenue per e-scooter decreased by 14.2% to RMB 3,354, indicating a shift towards more affordable models.
NIU CEO Yan Li explained: “In China, we are advancing our intelligent product development strategy by integrating automotive-grade technologies such as millimeter-wave radar, dual-channel ABS, and AI Smart Ecosystem to enhance the user experience. Our retail network has continued to expand in-line with our expectations, with new stores opening during the quarter. This synergistic combination of product innovation and omni-channel growth is driving measurable increases in domestic sales and market penetration.”
International challenges remain
While domestic sales certainly provided strong tailwinds for NIU, international markets still present challenges for the company. Sales outside China grew by a modest 6.4%, totaling 20,248 units. Factors such as US tariffs and increased freight costs were noted in NIU’s Q1 2025 earnings report as impacting international margins. Despite these hurdles, international sales contributed RMB 60 million (approximately US $8 million) to the quarterly revenue, a 22.4% increase year-over-year.
NIU’s gross margin declined to 17.3% from 18.9% in the same quarter last year, reflecting the pressure from international trade policies and logistics costs. Nevertheless, the company’s net loss narrowed to RMB 38.8 million, down from RMB 54.8 million in Q1 2024, indicating improved operational efficiency. While still operating at a net loss of around US 5.4 million, these numbers indicate a strong turnaround for the company – reflected by the nearly doubling of NIU’s stock price so far in 2025.
Looking ahead, NIU is anticipating continued growth and projecting Q2 2025 revenue to increase by 40% to 50% year-over-year. The company says it is also exploring strategies to mitigate international challenges, such as diversifying its production and focusing on markets less affected by tariffs.
As Li continued, “Globally, the market is undergoing structural shifts, with US trade policies experiencing increased volatility. However, we are leveraging innovation and agile infrastructure to mitigate geopolitical challenges, enabling sustainable global growth through proactive production adjustments.”
Electrek’s Take
If you’re a NIU fan like I am, this is great news that helps claw back some of the losses seen in the last couple of years. The entire micromobility sector has navigated choppy waters after the pandemic bubble burst, and NIU was certainly not immune to the drop in sales. But these numbers paint a promising return that industry analysts and scooter riders who depend on the company alike have been hoping for.
I visited NIU’s factory a few months ago and saw firsthand how much care and precision goes into building its millions of electric two-wheelers. That kind of in-depth look is rare in this industry, and it gave me keen insight into what separates NIU’s high-tech and high-design models from much of the industry.
Now it seems that sales are starting to catch back up to where such innovative pieces of tech deserve to be. Here’s to hoping for another good quarter to follow.
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On today’s sunny side up episode of Quick Charge, we take a look at the latest from the world of solar power, and discuss Congressional Republicans’ plans to limit your energy independence by eliminating a critical tax credit for homeowners nearly ten years early. (!)
We’ve also got a quick review of a massive solar farm powering 200,000 homes in Indiana and the biggest solar project East of the Mississippi – both part of a record 98% of all new power generation and grid capacity introduced in 2025 coming from wind and solar. Those are jobs, those are lower utility rates, those are energy independence … so why are Congressional Republicans working to make that more expensive?
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If you want to read that EnergySage report on the state of the home solar industry, including news about battery energy storage system and V2H/V2G prices and financing trends, you can check it out for yourself, below, then let us know what you think in the comments.
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If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
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A Waymo autonomous vehicle drives along Masonic Avenue on April 11, 2022 in San Francisco, California.
Justin Sullivan | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Alphabet’s Waymo unit has received approval to expand its autonomous ride-hailing service to more parts of the San Francisco Bay Area, including San Jose.
In March, the company submitted a request to the California Public Utilities Commission to gain approval for its latest passenger safety plan, a key step in gaining permission to operate driverless vehicles across a broader area. On Monday, the proposed expansion was approved, allowing for Waymo’s driverless coverage to extend from San Francisco down through the Peninsula.
“We’re very excited to share that the CPUC has approved our application to operate our fully autonomous commercial ride-hailing service in the South Bay and nearly all of San Jose!” the company wrote in a post on X on Monday. “While this won’t change our operations in the near-term, we’re looking forward to bringing the benefits of Waymo One to more of the Bay Area in the future.”
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