Siyu Huang, CEO and founder of Factorial Energy, joins joins Automotive News reporter Molly Boigon on the “Shift” podcast to discuss solid-state batteries for electric vehicles.<br>Huang explains why the batteries make EVs lighter and less expensive and how geopolitical tensions play into the batteries’ future.

Factorial’s Siyu Huang: Solid-state batteries could change EV game

Shift: A podcast about mobility

# Full Transcript

**Podcast:** Shift: A podcast about mobility

## Participants

- **Molly Boygon** (Automotive News)
- **Hannah Lutz** (Automotive News)
- **Siyu Huang** (Factorial Energy)

## Transcript

Hello and welcome to the Automotive News Shift Podcast, where we bring you the latest on automotive technology, trends, and transformation. I'm Molly Boygon, tech and innovation reporter at Automotive News. And I'm Hannah Lutz, assistant managing editor of content at Automotive News. Our guest today is Siyu Huang, the CEO and co-founder of Factorial Energy, a solid-state battery company that is working to improve the electric vehicle market.

She spoke to Molly about extending Mercedes EV range and how a lighter vehicle will drive down costs for consumers. I think based on our OEM and our customers' validation and feedback so far, not only just for automotive but for drones, for space applications, Factorial has one of the best technologies out there. But first, let's talk about the week. For that, we're joined by our colleague Richard Ward, a reporter here at Automotive News covering Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis.

Hi, Richard. Hey, Molly. Hey, Hannah. Hey, Richard. Richard, you wrote this week about how Chinese automakers still have offices in the U.S. despite their barriers to entering the U.S. market. What Chinese companies did you see that have the biggest U.S. presence and why are they in the United States? Well, clearly the largest is BYD, which is short for Build Your Dreams. They have a manufacturing facility in California.

They don't make passenger cars, but they do make passenger vehicles, buses, electric buses that are used in fleets and for school districts. Why are they here? Well, BYD is one of China's biggest automotive exporters, and they are clearly eyeing the U.S. market. And giving them manufacturing capability here opens up all sorts of avenues for them in the future in terms of finding suppliers, training a workforce. So they're here. They're the biggest.

And there are a few others with, gosh, how would you say it? Kind of like stealth offices and small R&D operations. Why are they here? That's a good question. A couple of the analysts I spoke to said they're here looking for talent and keeping their eyes on regulatory affairs. Okay. Well, Richard, the situation is a little different at our neighbors in Canada. Chinese vehicles are gaining ground there in Canada.

49,000 Chinese vehicles are slated to enter the Canadian market this year. To what extent are Chinese vehicles going to enter the U.S. market from Canada? Well, the Trump administration has said in no uncertain terms they're not going to let those Chinese vehicles come over the border. However, there are certain synergies between the U.S. and Canadian markets. Now, to certify a vehicle for sale in Canada, you know, deals with safety and emissions and other requirements.

And those regulations are largely aligned with the U.S. market. So if a Chinese automaker goes...

Factorial’s Siyu Huang: Solid-state batteries could change EV game

Transcript

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Factorial’s Siyu Huang: Solid-state batteries could change EV game

Transcript

Built for investment professionals

Every day you wait, your competitors are findingedge in conversations you're not hearing.

Every day you wait, your competitors are finding
edge in conversations you're not hearing.