Related: Toyota to Invest $3.4 Billion in Batteries, Start New Company
Mercedes-Benz Makes Bet on Solid-State Battery Technology
The automaker teams up with U.S.-based Factorial Energy to jointly develop new battery technology and plans to test prototype cells as early as next year.

The solid-state technology aims to set new standards in the area of energy density, enabling longer vehicle range with shorter charging times.
Photo courtesy of Daimler.
Mercedes-Benz is joining forces with Factorial Energy to develop a new battery technology that starts with the cell and extends to develop entire modules integrating into the vehicle battery.
"By accelerating our Mercedes-Benz strategy towards 'electric-only', we have set the course for a fully electric future," said Markus Schäfer, member of the board of management of Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG; responsible for Daimler Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars COO. "We will also play a leading role in the field of battery technology.
Schäfer characterized the investment in Factorial in the “high double-digit million-dollar amount.”
Mercedes-Benz aims to integrate the technology into select vehicles within the next five years. With its investment, Mercedes-Benz obtains the right to delegate a representative to Factorial’s Board of Directors.
"For Factorial Energy, it is a privilege to collaborate with Mercedes-Benz, which basically invented the automobile," added Siyu Huang, co-founder and CEO of Factorial. "We look forward to working with them to further innovate the automobile with our clean, efficient and safe solid-state battery technology."
More Operations

Fleet Has a Talent Pipeline Problem. What Comes Next? | AF News Recap
Where will fleet’s next generation of leaders come from? This week, we’re looking at the industry’s talent pipeline, what certification can add to a fleet career, how to build an award-worthy track record, and the return of Automotive Fleet’s Personal Use Survey.
Read More →
Smith System Launches Driver Risk Management Program
Fleets have more driver data than ever, but identifying risky behavior doesn't necessarily correct it. Smith System's new Driver Risk Management program combines monitoring, training, and follow-up coaching to help fleets connect risk signals with driver intervention.
Read More →
Automotive Fleet Opens 2026 Personal Use Survey for Commercial Fleet Managers
Less than two weeks left! Commercial and corporate fleet managers are invited to share how their organizations handle company vehicle personal-use policies, charges, and driver eligibility.
Read More →
From AI Prompts to AI-Generated Safety Songs | AF News Recap
Can better prompts make AI more useful for fleet managers? This week, we’re breaking down smarter fleet analysis, an AI-assisted experiment that turned safety training into music, and what happened to fuel prices in August.
Read More →
How to Write Better AI Prompts for Fleet Analysis
Include these six elements in your fleet prompts to generate more relevant analysis and accurate answers.
Read More →
Fleet Meets: Eric Kilgore
This edition of the Fleet Meets series features one of the industry's best leaders driving multi-market and national operations.
Read More →
Why Reactive Fleet Management Is Becoming Too Expensive to Sustain
Research highlights a growing need for proactive management strategies to address rising costs in fleet operations effectively.
Read More →
What Your Fleet KPIs Aren’t Telling You
Tracking fleet metrics is only useful when the data leads to better decisions. This guide helps fleet leaders assess cost, utilization, and downtime more accurately, identify performance gaps, and prioritize the actions that can improve operational results.
Read More →
Hidden in Plain Sight: Fleet Compliance Risks
Fleet compliance isn't just about having policies — it's about consistently enforcing them. This practical guide reveals six hidden compliance risks common in public sector and shared fleet operations and outlines proven strategies to improve visibility, accountability, and audit readiness
Read More →
Turning Fleet Payment Data into Executive Insights
Does data alone drive results in operations?
Read More →