SES Preparing for Next-Phase of Li-Metal Cell Manufacturing

SES AI Corporation (NYSE: SES), headquartered in Boston, a global leader in the development and manufacturing of high-performance lithium-metal (Li-Metal) rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) and other applications announced today that it is preparing Line 4 which will be its most-advanced and “next phase” Li-Metal cell manufacturing line following last year’s build-out of three A-sample lines, one in Shanghai China and two in Cheongchungbuk-do South Korea.

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Line 4 Facility  (Photo: Business Wire)

Line 4 Facility (Photo: Business Wire)

“We have accumulated tremendous learning from our three A-sample lines, we are combining all these learnings into a brand-new line, our Line 4. It will have far superior processes, quality, yields, and run-rates compared to our A-sample lines. This new line will be fully integrated with Avatar and will collect and send manufacturing data seamlessly to our AI battery health monitoring software. Some of the processes are so advanced that we will not be disclosing details. We are in the middle of design reviews and are issuing purchase orders (POs). We expect the dry rooms to be completed this summer, the equipment to start arriving this fall and the line to become fully operational and ready-to-use in the first half of 2024. Line 4 will be a major milestone for the automotive commercialization of Li-Metal cells”, said Founder and CEO Qichao Hu.

About SES

SES is a global leader in the development and production of high-performance Li-Metal rechargeable batteries for EVs and other applications. Founded in 2012, SES is an integrated Li-Metal battery manufacturer with strong capabilities in material, cell, module, AI-powered safety algorithms and recycling. Formerly known as SolidEnergy Systems, SES is headquartered in Boston and has operations in Singapore, Shanghai, and Seoul.

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You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Should one or more of a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results or performance may be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to the following: risks related to the development and commercialization of SES’s battery technology and the timing and achievement of expected business milestones; risks relating to the uncertainty of achieving and maintaining profitability; risks relating to the uncertainty of meeting future capital requirements; the ability of SES to integrate its products into electric vehicles (“EVs”) or electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (“eVTOLs”); the risk that delays in the pre-manufacturing development of SES’s battery cells could adversely affect SES’s business and prospects; potential supply chain difficulties; the ability of SES to engage target original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) customers successfully and integrate SES’s products into EVs manufactured by OEM customers; the ability to obtain raw materials, components or equipment through new or existing supply relationships; risks resulting from SES’s joint development agreements and other strategic alliances and investments; product liability and other potential litigation, regulation and legal compliance; SES’s ability to attract, train and retain highly skilled employees and key personnel; the uncertainty in global economic conditions and risks relating to health epidemics, including the COVID-19 pandemic and any operational interruptions; developments in alternative technology or other fossil fuel alternatives; risks related to SES’s intellectual property; business, regulatory, political, operational, financial and economic risks related to SES’s business operations outside the United States; SES has identified a material weakness in its internal control over financial reporting and may identify material weaknesses in the future or otherwise fail to develop or maintain an effective system of internal controls; the volatility of SES’s common stock and value of SES’s public warrants; and the other risks described in “Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 16, 2023 and other documents filed from time to time with the SEC. There may be additional risks that SES presently knows and/or believes are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect SES’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views only as of the date of this press release. SES anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause its assessments to change. However, while SES may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, SES specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing SES’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.