Backed by GAC Group, INPOW Battery is entering the European market with high-capacity energy storage systems, semi-solid-state batteries, and an ambitious expansion plan centered on quality, safety, and local manufacturing.
Battery energy storage solutions shape INPOW Battery’s European strategy
Competition across the energy transition sector is becoming increasingly intense, and The Smarter E in Munich has established itself as the ideal venue for leading companies to showcase their flagship products and technological innovations as they compete for the European market. Batteries have become the new oil, and China remains the undisputed global leader in battery development and manufacturing.
At the Munich exhibition, Rinnovabili spoke with Xu Junhai, President of INPOW Battery, a company specializing in cutting-edge battery technologies. Established as a wholly owned subsidiary of GAC Group (Guangzhou Automobile Group), one of China’s largest automotive manufacturers, INPOW Battery has attracted growing attention in both the electric vehicle and energy storage sectors thanks to several technological innovations. The company chose The Smarter E 2026 for its European debut, giving us the opportunity to meet one of the industry’s emerging global players.
Mr. Xu Junhai, you lead INPOW Battery, and you selected The Smarter E 2026 for your European market debut. Munich will also become your European headquarters. Why did you make this decision, and what will your strategy be?
Our globalization strategy begins with Europe because it is a very large market with extremely demanding standards. That aligns perfectly with our philosophy of delivering products with the highest levels of quality and safety. Our initial objective is to enter the premium segment, which is why Europe is the first step in our global expansion.
We will not simply export products from China to Europe. We want to cooperate with local partners to develop products that are better suited to the European market. There are many specific applications where we can work alongside local companies to create more targeted solutions.
Our European strategy will unfold in three phases. First, we will establish our European headquarters, including sales, technical support, and after-sales services, with a team of approximately 50 employees.
In the second phase, we plan to build an assembly facility. Since INPOW Battery is a subsidiary of GAC Group, which already sells vehicles in Europe and intends to expand by building its own European assembly plant, we could supply battery systems for those vehicles. Our idea is to build our battery facility alongside GAC’s future manufacturing site. The same facility will also manufacture ESS products using our battery technology.
The third phase will involve building a battery cell manufacturing plant, depending on market demand and future policy developments.
Let’s focus on technology. What innovations and products has INPOW Battery introduced at The Smarter E?
We have brought our complete product portfolio, including battery cells and our ESS platform. Our new 587 Ah cell represents the next generation of battery technology. It is available in two versions, one using a liquid electrolyte and another using semi-solid-state technology. The safety performance of the semi-solid-state version is comparable to that of solid-state batteries, as it successfully passes many of the same extreme testing procedures.
Our second major innovation is a 6.25 MWh ESS container. We manufacture everything in-house, from battery cells and battery packs to the complete energy storage system. We also develop our own battery management system (BMS) and energy management system (EMS). For European customers, however, we are fully capable of integrating locally supplied systems whenever required.
Compared with a conventional 5 MWh container, our 6.25 MWh solution increases capacity by approximately 25%, reduces land use by 20%, and improves efficiency by 5%. From battery cells to the complete system, it is a highly advanced product designed specifically for the European market.
The battery market is extremely competitive, with major players such as BYD and CATL. What differentiates INPOW Battery?
Those companies are enormous organizations, so I believe they mainly focus on very large-scale projects and standardized products. Our strategy is different. We customize products for different European applications, remain extremely flexible, and respond rapidly to customer requirements. It is a strategy based on differentiated competition.
As a subsidiary of GAC Group, we also manufacture ESS products using the same automotive-quality standards applied to vehicle batteries. Many people consider ESS systems to be standard industrial products, but we see them differently. We regard them as premium products.
Automotive products are generally associated with higher quality than conventional industrial equipment. However, ESS systems require even more demanding performance in some areas. They must deliver operational lifetimes of 10 to 20 years while maintaining exceptional stability, consistency, and reliability under extremely strict requirements.
Our automotive manufacturing expertise allows us to apply this high-quality production system to ESS manufacturing, giving us a significant competitive advantage. Every year we manufacture and deliver approximately 300,000 vehicle battery packs to automotive manufacturers. The quality of our products exceeds the current market benchmark represented by the industry’s largest companies. High quality, maximum safety, and the ability to customize products according to each customer’s needs are our key strengths.
Given your close relationship with GAC Group, are you already developing solid-state batteries for electric vehicles, which are expected to become the industry’s next standard?
Yes. We have a dedicated solid-state battery production line and have already manufactured pilot batches of 60 Ah solid-state batteries. This places us among the leading companies in the solid-state battery segment.
Are these batteries already being used in vehicles, or are they still undergoing testing?
They are currently in the testing phase. However, we have already implemented semi-solid-state batteries in our ESS products.
Thermal safety and BESS resilience are central topics in Europe’s energy transition debate. As you enter the European market, how will you meet these demanding safety standards?
First, we will fully comply with every mandatory European requirement. However, we go far beyond regulatory standards by conducting extremely rigorous internal testing.
For example, we perform hot chamber testing at 200°C. This type of test is generally designed for solid-state batteries, yet our semi-solid-state battery successfully passes testing at 200°C, whereas the standard requirement is typically only 130°C.
We also perform crash testing using forces that are ten times greater than those required under conventional testing standards. By validating our products under such extreme conditions, we are confident we can deliver the highest levels of safety for the European market.
Let’s talk about technological development, particularly the role of artificial intelligence. How does AI improve the management and optimization of your energy storage systems?
First, we use AI during product development. In the past, identifying the best battery materials required an enormous number of laboratory tests and material combinations. Today, AI enables us to identify the most suitable materials far more efficiently, reducing development time by as much as tenfold.
Second, we apply AI throughout our manufacturing process. We currently operate more than 3,000 cameras along our production lines, and each one uses artificial intelligence to detect defects in battery electrodes.
Our products also incorporate an AI-based early warning system capable of identifying defects and potential anomalies before they actually occur. Thanks to our algorithms, we can detect potential issues approximately 20 days in advance. AI also allows us to identify potential thermal instability up to 24 hours before it develops. This capability provides a major competitive advantage.
Finally, what are your expectations for the European market over the medium term?
Within the next one to two years, our objective is to sell approximately 2 GW of products across Europe. During the same period, we will establish a permanent European organization covering sales, after-sales services, and technical support. We also plan to build relationships with around 50 European system integrators and become one of the top 10 most recognized and appreciated battery brands in Europe.
Over the following three to five years, our ambition is to become one of the mainstream suppliers in the European ESS market while significantly expanding our commercial activities throughout the region.
