Bernstein Global Energy Storage: Battery Weekly January 26
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Bernstein's January 26 global energy storage battery weekly report covers key industry developments across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. In the Americas, BMW confirmed that its Spartanburg plant will begin producing fully electric vehicles by late 2026, having resolved battery supply issues with AESC. Brazil is scheduled to hold its first grid-scale battery auction in April, where Chinese firms are expected to compete. Chile, Argentina, and Mexico are also significantly expanding their battery storage capabilities.
In Europe, demand for the Mercedes-Benz GLC electric and the BMW iX3 has exceeded expectations, pushing order backlogs into the second half of 2026. Meanwhile, Asia is witnessing notable technological advancements. CATL launched the "Tectrans II" sodium-ion battery series for light commercial vehicles, achieving an energy density of 175 Wh/kg and retaining 90% capacity at -40°C. CATL plans to deploy sodium-ion batteries in passenger vehicles by Q2 2026 and is developing its third-generation cell. LG Energy Solution is constructing a sodium-ion pilot line in Nanjing.
SVOLT introduced an 80 kWh plug-in hybrid battery pack and raised public doubts regarding a solid-state battery prototype showcased by Donut Lab. Regarding ratings, CATL is rated Outperform with a target price of RMB 530. LG Chem, LG Energy Solution, and Samsung SDI are Market-Perform, while EcoPro BM and Posco Future M are Underperform.