Battery and EV Technology Trends at CES 2025 

 Gu-Min Jeong Professor, Kookmin University, Korea

At CES 2025, the mobility-related exhibition focused on five key keywords: electric vehicles, autonomous driving, SDV (Software-Defined Vehicles), generative AI, and the expansion of mobility devices. In particular, the saturation of the recent automobile market, changes in the EV market, and shifts in the Chinese market had a significant impact on the exhibition. The saturation and stagnation of the automobile market are expected to continue in 2025.

In the battery sector, Samsung SDI and Panasonic received significant attention. Among automakers, BMW, Honda, Sony Honda Mobility, Zeekr, and Great Wall Motors participated in the exhibition, while Toyota and Volvo held press conferences and keynote speeches. Unfortunately, Hyundai and Kia did not participate directly, but their platforms were utilized in several exhibitions. All vehicles showcased at CES 2025 were either electric vehicles or plug-in hybrid vehicles. As electric vehicles advance, their evolution is increasingly linked to autonomous driving and the development of interior usability technologies such as advanced displays.

Samsung SDI was particularly noteworthy among battery manufacturers, winning four innovation awards at CES 2025. The company was recognized for four technologies: high-density EV batteries based on high-nickel NCA cathodes, battery modules incorporating wireless communication technology, ESS (Energy Storage System) batteries with thermal propagation prevention technology, and high-performance 21700 cylindrical batteries. Additionally, as Samsung SDI’s batteries are expected to be used in BMW’s next-generation EV platform, Neue Klasse, which is set for commercialization in 2025, they are anticipated to play a crucial role in the EV market alongside Neue Klasse-based electric vehicles. Panasonic also announced in its keynote speech that it would accelerate the commercialization of the 4680 battery developed in collaboration with Tesla. Interest in immersion cooling technology has also surged, with Taiwan’s XING Mobility winning an innovation award for its immersion cooling technology. Notably, agricultural machinery manufacturers John Deere and Kubota are striving to secure immersion cooling technology through the acquisition of Kreisel Electric and investment in XING Mobility.

In the automaker sector, BMW showcased Neue Klasse-based vehicles and display-related technologies, Honda introduced next-generation electric concept cars Honda 0 Saloon and Honda 0 SUV, and Sony Honda Mobility presented the Afeela. Zeekr and Great Wall Motors also displayed their latest vehicles. Waymo exhibited an autonomous vehicle based on the Hyundai Ioniq 5, while Amazon Zoox showcased its autonomous vehicle.

BMW and Hyundai Mobis emphasized interior usability enhancements for autonomous EVs. Although their technologies differ in specifics, both demonstrated solutions that project images onto car windows, functioning similarly to a head-up display. This trend aligns with the expansion of interior usability, leveraging the unique characteristics of battery-embedded electric vehicles.

Despite Hyundai and Kia’s absence from the exhibition, multiple companies showcased various technologies using Hyundai and Kia vehicles as platforms. Waymo exhibited an autonomous vehicle based on the Ioniq 5, Hyundai Mobis demonstrated a holographic windshield display with the EV9, and Samsung Electronics presented an Ioniq 9 integrated with SmartThings. These examples illustrate how Hyundai and Kia’s EV platforms are being utilized for diverse innovations, reinforcing the vision of electric vehicles as integrated technology platforms.

In 2025, major automakers are expected to accelerate the commercialization of next-generation EVs, autonomous driving, and SDV platforms. The launch of BMW and Mercedes-Benz’s next-generation platforms is anticipated to inject fresh momentum into the EV market. Honda and Sony Honda Mobility announced plans for mass production in 2026, but this schedule may be affected by the integration timeline of Honda, Nissan, and Mitsubishi.

Despite the saturation of the automobile market, the EV sector continues to grow. We look forward to strong performances from Korean companies in this evolving landscape in 2025.