QuantumScape plans to establish a 100 megawatt-hour (MWh) solid-state battery cell production line to serve potential demand from sectors including AI data centers, aerospace and defense. The company has partnered with German manufacturing technology specialist Muehlbauer Group to supply cell assembly equipment for the planned facility.
Cell production is targeted to begin in 2028. Engineering work is underway to develop higher-throughput manufacturing processes and equipment for the new line.
Scaling Up From Pilot Production
QuantumScape is currently demonstrating its solid-state lithium-metal battery manufacturing processes at the Eagle Line pilot facility in San Jose, California. The highly automated facility is being used to assess production processes and their potential for scaling.
Muehlbauer evaluated the Eagle Line and developed design enhancements intended to support higher-volume manufacturing. The companies are now working on adapting the processes and equipment for the planned 100 MWh production line.
QuantumScape said the project is part of its effort to move its battery technology toward commercial-scale production. The company has not disclosed the project’s investment cost or detailed production ramp-up schedule.
Companies Outline Manufacturing Partnership
QuantumScape CEO and president Dr. Siva Sivaram said Muehlbauer would contribute manufacturing automation and system integration expertise as the company develops its production capabilities.
“We are excited to welcome Muehlbauer to the QS ecosystem,” said Dr. Siva Sivaram, president and CEO of QS. “Muehlbauer is an experienced and respected global player in manufacturing automation and battery equipment, and they’ve shown top-tier system integration capability, impressive engineering depth, and the scalability mindset necessary to bring our groundbreaking technology to the gigawatt-hour scale. They join a world-class ecosystem of technology partners as we bring solid-state batteries into mass production.”
Muehlbauer CEO Josef Markus Mühlbauer said the company had worked with QuantumScape’s team in San Jose to develop a manufacturing scale-up plan based on the Eagle Line.
“The Eagle Line proved to us that QuantumScape’s solid-state technology is ready to scale to the next level,” said Josef Markus Mühlbauer, CEO of Muehlbauer Group. “We have been working on-site with QS in San Jose to develop a scale-up plan built on the foundation of the Eagle Line. With decades of experience in turning innovative technologies into scalable production processes, we are proud to be a preferred partner within QuantumScape’s ecosystem and to contribute our expertise to the mission of revolutionizing energy storage and enabling a more sustainable future.”
Targeting Demand Beyond Electric Vehicles
QuantumScape’s planned production line is intended to supply solid-state cells for applications beyond the automotive market, including AI data centers, aerospace and defense. These sectors may require battery systems that meet specific requirements for energy storage, weight, performance and operating conditions.
The proposed 100 MWh capacity represents a manufacturing step toward broader commercialization, although the company has not provided customer delivery commitments or detailed output allocations for individual markets.
The next phase will focus on engineering and integrating the production equipment, with cell manufacturing expected to start in 2028. The project’s progress will depend on successfully scaling the pilot processes and establishing repeatable production at the new line.