SES AI (SES) Deutsche Bank Global Auto Industry Conference summary

Technology and product development

• Advancing lithium metal battery technology for EV and UAM, leveraging high energy density and scalable manufacturing.

• Deep focus on molecular discovery for electrolytes, resulting in high-quality, proprietary materials.

• AI-driven Avatar platform used for manufacturing quality and safety prediction, aiming for 95% incident predictability this year.

• B-sample cell designs now tailored for demo cars and UAM, with significant automation improvements in new lines.

• Data collection from manufacturing lines is central to accelerating learning and improving safety.

Strategic partnerships and commercialization

• Active B-sample JDAs with Honda and Hyundai, focusing on deep collaboration and joint line operations.

• Building a manufacturing line within Hyundai's facility, with plans for a three-way joint venture model for future commercialization.

• Not prioritizing additional JDAs, instead deepening existing partnerships.

• UAM market seen as a near-term opportunity due to higher battery prices and lower volume requirements.

• Commercial revenue expected from UAM in H1 2025 and from EV in H2 2025.

Competitive landscape and differentiation

• Lithium metal batteries positioned as essential for next-gen EV and UAM, offering longer range and lower costs.

• Manufacturing process closely mirrors lithium-ion, but with proprietary improvements and AI integration.

• AI for manufacturing and safety is a key differentiator, with potential for licensing to other OEMs.

• Focused on insourcing critical processes to ensure quality and data integrity, especially for lithium foil.