The first MG4 Anxin Edition electric hatchbacks have been delivered to customers in China ahead of a planned Australian launch in the second quarter (April–June) of 2026.
The MG4 Anxin Edition is the world’s first mass-produced electric vehicle (EV) to use liquid semi-solid-state batteries – a halfway house between current battery technology and solid-state batteries.
The smaller front-wheel-drive MG4, similar in size to the BYD Dolphin, will be sold in Australia alongside an update to the existing rear-wheel- and all-wheel-drive MG4 range.
The MG4 Anxin Edition – with ‘anxin’ translating to ‘relief’ or ‘peace of mind’ – has a claimed 530km CLTC range, equating to 435km (WLTP), and costs ¥102,800 (A$21,944) in China.
It undercuts the BYD Dolphin’s China price of ¥129,800 ($27,707) for the top-spec version – currently in Australian BYD showrooms at $36,990 before on-road costs – which has a claimed 427km (WLTP) range.
It’s not clear if the MG4 will be offered with the liquid solid-state technology here. However, MG Motor Australia has confirmed a 54kWh battery – the same size as the manganese-based lithium-ion liquid solid-state pack in the Anxin Edition – for local showrooms.
MG states the semi-solid-state Anxin Edition has an energy consumption rate of 11.9kWh/100km and can accept 2C ultra-fast charging, allowing it to charge up to 80 per cent in 21 minutes.
Other versions of the front-drive MG4 sold in China use a conventional lithium-ion battery pack. The liquid solid-state battery uses five per cent less liquid electrolyte than conventional versions, improving stability.
Solid-state batteries have been seen by many automakers as the key to unlocking the potential of EVs, both in terms of practicality and sales opportunity.
The name comes from the use of solid materials for the electrolytes – the chemicals in the battery that store and transmit power – instead of flammable liquid.
From July 1, 2026, new laws in China surrounding EV battery safety come into effect, with solid-state batteries again claimed to be less prone to damage, short-circuiting and catching fire.
Being more efficient, they offer the same driving range in a much smaller battery size – reducing weight – or could deliver a greater distance between charges from the same physical-size unit.
They’re also said to be simpler and cheaper to manufacture, with the battery currently the single most expensive component of an EV, further reducing costs and increasing accessibility and customer appeal.
Honda, which will launch its first EV in Australia in 2026, opened a dedicated manufacturing facility to develop solid-state batteries in 2025, while Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai are among other brands working on them.
China’s GAC, which launched in Australia in November 2025 with three new models, plans to introduce solid-state technology to showrooms in 2026, although details on exactly when they will hit Australia – and in which models – are yet to be confirmed.
The world’s largest carmaker by sales, Toyota, told CarExpert at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show (JMS) in Tokyo it plans to introduce solid-state batteries to showroom models in 2027 or 2028.
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