QuantumScape Corporation (QS) announced plans for a 100 megawatt-hour (MWh) solid-state battery production line, with cell production targeted to begin in 2028. The company also named Germany's Muehlbauer Group as its partner to develop manufacturing equipment for large-scale battery production.

The announcement sent QuantumScape shares up 13.57% to $4.52, a gain of $0.54, during after-hours trading — a session window outside regular exchange hours in which price moves do not necessarily carry over once standard trading resumes. According to the company, the planned facility will produce lithium-metal solid-state battery cells for industrial markets that extend beyond conventional electric vehicles, including artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, aerospace operations, and defense applications requiring advanced energy storage systems.

Solid-State Manufacturing Push Centered in San Jose

The plan marks another step in QuantumScape's efforts to establish large-scale solid-state battery manufacturing. The company's technology development and manufacturing activities are centered in San Jose, California, where it has focused on solid-state batteries designed to offer advantages over conventional lithium-ion technology. Its approach uses solid electrolytes instead of traditional liquid materials to support improved energy storage performance.

Such designs are generally associated with higher energy density and improved safety compared with conventional lithium-ion batteries, which rely on liquid electrolytes. QuantumScape aims to establish manufacturing processes capable of supporting commercial production across multiple industries. The 100 MWh project will combine automated systems with engineering improvements drawn from the company's existing pilot operations, supporting its broader effort to move solid-state battery technology toward high-volume manufacturing.

Muehlbauer Group to Develop Automated Assembly Equipment

QuantumScape selected Germany-based Muehlbauer Group to provide specialized equipment and manufacturing expertise for the planned production line. The partnership will focus on developing automated cell assembly systems that support higher production volumes, building on manufacturing processes already demonstrated at QuantumScape's San Jose facility.

The company's Eagle Line pilot facility currently demonstrates automated production processes for its solid-state battery cells. Muehlbauer examined those processes and identified engineering improvements that could support larger manufacturing operations. As a result, the two companies have started developing equipment and processes capable of handling greater production volumes.

Muehlbauer brings extensive experience in industrial automation, equipment engineering, and manufacturing system integration. Its involvement will help QuantumScape develop production systems for the planned 100 MWh manufacturing capacity, with the companies set to continue engineering work ahead of the targeted production launch in 2028. That equipment work is a necessary early stage in scaling any battery technology, since assembly systems must be engineered and validated before a line can produce cells at commercial volumes.

2028 Target as Applications Extend Beyond Electric Vehicles

QuantumScape expects the planned production line to serve markets beyond the electric vehicle industry. AI data centers represent one potential market, as operators need dependable energy storage for demanding computing infrastructure. Aerospace and defense applications similarly create opportunities for advanced batteries that must meet demanding performance requirements.

The 2028 target refers to the start of cell production at the planned 100 MWh line — equal to one-tenth of a gigawatt-hour — which represents another step toward QuantumScape's broader goal of gigawatt-hour-scale battery manufacturing. The existing Eagle Line provides the technical foundation for developing more efficient automated production systems, while the Muehlbauer partnership adds manufacturing expertise as QuantumScape works to increase production capacity.

QuantumScape has not announced a specific commissioning date beyond its 2028 production target, and it has not disclosed the project's total investment cost or expected commercial revenue. The manufacturing plan nonetheless establishes a defined capacity target and expands the company's industrial partnership network ahead of production, and further details on commissioning timing, capital spending, and commercial agreements will be the natural milestones to watch as 2028 approaches.

Source: Blockonomi