Mission Statement, Vision, & Core Values of QuantumScape Corporation (QS)

Understanding the Mission Statement, Vision, and Core Values of QuantumScape Corporation is defintely as critical as tracking their financials, especially when the company is still in the pre-revenue, high-burn phase of its life cycle.

Does a mission to revolutionize energy storage align with a Q3 2025 net loss of nearly $105.8 million, or does the $1.0 billion in liquidity-projected to fund operations through the end of the decade-tell a more compelling story about their long-term vision?

We need to map the company's foundational principles of innovation and excellence directly against its operational reality, where R&D expenses for the twelve months ending September 30, 2025, hit $0.393 billion, to see if their culture can bridge the gap to commercialization.

Are you investing in a technology, or are you investing in the core beliefs that will sustain a decade-long cash runway?

QuantumScape Corporation (QS) Overview

You're looking for a clear picture of QuantumScape Corporation (QS), a company that's defintely a high-stakes, long-term play in the energy storage sector. The direct takeaway is this: QuantumScape is a pre-revenue, deep-technology company that is successfully transitioning from pure R&D to a product-sampling and licensing model, highlighted by its first-ever customer billings in 2025.

Founded in 2010 in San Jose, California, QuantumScape's core mission is to revolutionize energy storage to enable a sustainable future. They are developing next-generation solid-state lithium-metal batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) and other applications. Unlike traditional lithium-ion batteries that use a liquid electrolyte, QuantumScape's technology replaces it with a solid ceramic separator, which is designed to enable greater energy density, faster charging, and enhanced safety. They are building a global ecosystem of world-class partners to bring this technology to market, including a significant, long-standing collaboration with the Volkswagen Group, which is also a major investor.

Their main product focus is the QSE-5 cell, which features an energy density of 844 Wh/L (watt-hours per liter) and can charge from 10% to 80% in just 12.2 minutes. That's a game-changer for EV range and convenience. As of November 2025, the company is focused on shipping B1 samples of this cell, which utilize their proprietary Cobra separator process. This is the critical step before high-volume commercial production, and it's where their current sales efforts are concentrated. You can find out more about the whole story here: QuantumScape Corporation (QS): History, Ownership, Mission, How It Works & Makes Money.

Q3 2025 Financial Performance and Key Metrics

Honesty, when you look at a deep-tech company like QuantumScape, you have to look past the top-line revenue number, because they are still in the development phase. But here's the quick math: the third quarter of 2025 (ending September 30) marked a pivotal shift with the company recording its first-ever customer billings of $12.8 million. This is not traditional product revenue, but it represents a significant milestone in their capital-light licensing model, stemming from non-recurring engineering (NRE) fees and reimbursements from partners like PowerCo, the battery arm of the Volkswagen Group.

Despite this positive development, the company is still in a heavy investment phase, which is expected. Their GAAP Net Loss for Q3 2025 was $105.8 million, a slight improvement from the previous year. The adjusted EBITDA loss for the quarter was $61.4 million, which was right in line with expectations. For the full 2025 fiscal year, management has tightened their guidance for the adjusted EBITDA loss to a range of $245 million to $260 million, reflecting gains in operational efficiency.

The real strength is in the balance sheet. They ended Q3 2025 with a strong liquidity position of approximately $1.0 billion, which includes cash and marketable securities. This cash runway is crucial because it gives them the capital to execute their ambitious roadmap, which includes:

• Integrating the Cobra process into baseline production.
• Shipping QSE-5 B1 samples to customers and partners.
• Advancing commercial licensing discussions with major automotive OEMs.

QuantumScape's Position as an Industry Leader

QuantumScape is not just another battery company; they are a leader in the race to commercialize solid-state battery technology, a field that could fundamentally reshape the EV market. The entire industry is watching them, and for good reason. Their technology is designed to deliver a step-change improvement over current lithium-ion batteries, offering a combination of high energy density (longer range) and ultra-fast charging that few competitors can match.

Their progress in 2025, particularly the shipment of B1 samples of the QSE-5 cell, shows they are hitting key technical and production milestones. This B1 sample stage is the final hurdle before the A-samples, which are typically used for vehicle integration and testing by automotive manufacturers. Plus, their strategic partnerships with giants like Volkswagen Group and their collaboration with Murata Manufacturing and Corning to industrialize the technology are clear signals of their leadership position. They aren't just building a better battery; they are building an entire manufacturing ecosystem.

The solid-state battery market is projected to expand at a staggering compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 56.6% through 2030, according to some research. QuantumScape is positioned right at the forefront of this massive wave. You should dig deeper to understand why their technical breakthroughs and capital-light licensing model-focusing on selling the technology and manufacturing know-how rather than solely building gigafactories-make them a truly disruptive force.

QuantumScape Corporation (QS) Mission Statement

You're looking at QuantumScape Corporation (QS) because you know the future of mobility runs on batteries, and you want to understand the bedrock guiding their multi-billion dollar bet. The company's mission is not just a poster on the wall; it's the strategic filter for every dollar spent on R&D and every partnership signed. Simply put, QuantumScape's mission is: to revolutionize energy storage and power a decarbonized future, starting with transportation.

This mission is the blueprint for their long-term goals, particularly as they transition from a pure research company to a commercial licensing powerhouse. It's a clear mandate to create a step-change in battery technology, not just an incremental improvement. For a company still in the pre-revenue phase, the mission is what keeps investors and partners-like PowerCo-aligned on the ultimate, high-value outcome.

Core Component 1: Revolutionize Energy Storage with Solid-State Technology

The first, and most tangible, component of the mission is the commitment to a fundamental technological disruption. This isn't about tweaking the existing lithium-ion chemistry; it's about replacing the liquid electrolyte with a proprietary solid ceramic separator. This shift is what enables the high-performance metrics that traditional batteries can't touch.

Here's the quick math on their progress: The QSE-5 solid-state battery cell, which began B-sample production in late 2024, boasts an energy density of 844 watt-hours per liter. That's a significant leap toward enabling electric vehicles (EVs) with far greater range. Plus, the fast-charging capability is a game-changer, allowing a charge from 10% to 80% in just 12.2 minutes. That's defintely faster than most current gas station fill-ups.

• Achieve superior energy density for longer EV range.
• Enable ultra-fast charging to match gasoline refueling times.
• Simplify cell design for lower manufacturing costs.

Core Component 2: Drive the Future of Transportation

The mission explicitly anchors its revolutionary technology to the transportation sector, recognizing the urgent need to electrify the automotive powertrain. While the technology has broader applications (stationary storage, consumer electronics), the immediate focus is on getting their solid-state batteries into cars on the road. This is where their strategic blueprint, which includes building a global ecosystem, comes into play.

The proof is in the commercialization milestones achieved in the 2025 fiscal year. For the first time, QuantumScape recorded customer billings of $12.8 million in the third quarter of 2025. This small but significant number validates the technology's commercial viability and the new capital-light licensing model, which helps them scale without massive capital expenditures (CapEx). Speaking of CapEx, the full-year 2025 guidance was revised to a lean $30 million to $40 million. This focus on licensing, rather than building every factory themselves, is how they plan to accelerate adoption.

Core Component 3: Power a Decarbonized and Sustainable Future

The final pillar is the societal impact: accelerating the global shift to a sustainable future. This isn't just a feel-good statement; it's baked into the product's design. The solid ceramic separator is non-flammable and noncombustible, making the batteries fundamentally safer than conventional lithium-ion cells.

The company's operational efficiency is also a key part of this sustainability commitment. The successful integration of the new Cobra manufacturing process is a major step toward cost-effective mass production. The Cobra process is 25 times faster than the previous Raptor system, which drastically improves manufacturing efficiency and reduces the resources needed per separator. This operational focus, combined with a strong liquidity position of about $1.0 billion in cash, provides a financial runway extending through 2029, allowing them to weather the market's volatility and focus on the long-term goal. If you want a deeper dive into how they manage that cash burn, you should check out Breaking Down QuantumScape Corporation (QS) Financial Health: Key Insights for Investors.

QuantumScape Corporation (QS) Vision Statement

You're looking for a clear map of where QuantumScape Corporation is going, not just the technical specs of their solid-state battery. The core takeaway is simple: their vision is to be the global leader in next-generation battery technology, and their strategy for 2025 is laser-focused on moving from a deep research and development (R&D) company to a commercial-ready, licensing-focused platform.

The company's mission is to revolutionize energy storage and power a decarbonized future, starting with transportation. This isn't a vague goal; it's a direct challenge to conventional lithium-ion batteries. Their explicit vision is 'To lead the way in advancing battery technology for a sustainable future.' This is a big promise, but their recent Q3 2025 results show the first real signs of commercial traction, which is defintely the most important near-term trend.

Demonstrate the Technology in Real-World Applications

The first pillar of their strategic blueprint is proving the technology works outside the lab. This is where the rubber meets the road-literally. The company hit a major milestone in 2025 by shipping B1 samples of their QSE-5 cell to customers, moving past the earlier Alpha prototypes. This is a critical step because the B1 samples are designed to reflect mature performance and manufacturing specifications for a potential 2026 launch program.

You need to see the proof in the numbers, so here's the quick math on progress: The new QSE-5 cells are designed to offer phenomenal energy density and a fast-charging capability of 10% to 80% in just over 12 minutes. Plus, their partnership with PowerCo (Volkswagen Group's battery company) saw a major public demonstration with the Ducati V21L motorcycle. These aren't just lab results; they are real-world application tests that validate the technology's superiority in performance and safety. Breaking Down QuantumScape Corporation (QS) Financial Health: Key Insights for Investors

Build a Global Ecosystem Around This New Technology Platform

The second pillar is all about scale without the massive capital expenditure (CapEx) burden of building gigafactories themselves. This is their 'capital-light licensing model.' Instead of owning every factory, they want to license their core technology-the solid ceramic separator-to partners globally. This is a smart financial move that shifts the CapEx risk.

The clearest sign this strategy is working came in Q3 2025 with their first-ever customer billings, totaling $12.8 million. It's not official GAAP revenue yet, but it's real cash from partners paying for R&D and development work. This validates the commercial value of the technology today. They also expanded their ecosystem with a joint development agreement with Corning to enhance ceramic separator manufacturing capabilities, plus they are in active discussions with at least two new top-10 global automakers.

• Q3 2025 Customer Billings: $12.8 million.
• Full-year 2025 CapEx Guidance: $30 million - $40 million.
• Partnerships: PowerCo, Corning, and Murata Manufacturing.

Continue Innovating to Unlock New Applications and Markets

The final pillar ensures their technology platform doesn't become a one-trick pony. The goal is to continuously innovate to push the boundaries of battery performance and open new use cases beyond electric vehicles, such as stationary storage, consumer electronics, and aviation.

The biggest recent innovation is the integration of the Cobra process. This new, scalable manufacturing platform for the ceramic separator is a huge leap forward, making the heat treatment step about 25 times faster and requiring a much smaller factory footprint. What this estimate hides is the execution risk of scaling a new process, but the efficiency gains are what will ultimately drive down costs for their licensees. This relentless focus on innovation is essential because the competition, like Toyota and Samsung SDI, is fierce and aiming for mass production in the 2027-2028 timeframe.

Core Values: The Principles Guiding Execution

The company's operations are guided by a few core principles that you see reflected in their financial management and technical progress. They emphasize Innovation and the 'unrelenting pursuit of the best battery technology.' This is why they're burning cash-the Q3 2025 GAAP net loss was $105.8 million-but they are managing their runway, ending the quarter with $1.0 billion in liquidity.

Another key value is Collaboration, exemplified by their joint efforts with partners like PowerCo to install higher-volume cell production equipment. Finally, Sustainability is embedded in their mission to reduce global emissions and minimize the environmental impact of their product. They believe great results are achieved by teams working together with trust, which is a necessity when you are trying to industrialize a breakthrough technology.

QuantumScape Corporation (QS) Core Values

You're looking for the bedrock of QuantumScape Corporation's (QS) strategy, the principles that guide their massive R&D spending and their push toward commercialization. As a seasoned analyst, I see their core values not as plaques on a wall, but as a direct reflection of their operational milestones and financial strategy in 2025. They are a trend-aware realist's map for navigating the capital-intensive battery sector.

The company's mission is clear: to revolutionize energy storage to enable a sustainable future. Their values are the engine for that mission, especially as they pivot to a capital-light licensing model. The quick math is simple: they need to spend to win, and their values dictate how they spend their $1.0 billion in liquidity.

Relentless Innovation

This value is the lifeblood of a technology company like QuantumScape Corporation. It means constantly pushing the envelope on solid-state lithium-metal battery technology to deliver a no-compromise solution-faster charging, longer range, and enhanced safety. Honestly, without this, they are just another battery company.

Their commitment to innovation is defintely evident in their manufacturing process advancements this year. In June 2025, they integrated the proprietary 'Cobra' separator manufacturing process into their baseline production. This new process is a game-changer, as it's reportedly 25 times faster and more compact than the older Raptor system, which is crucial for moving toward cost-efficient, large-scale production. This is how they create outsized value.

Strategic Collaboration

You can't change a global industry alone; you need world-class partners. QuantumScape Corporation recognizes that building a global ecosystem around its technology platform is essential to accelerate commercialization. Their shift to a licensing model, which requires projected capital expenditure (CapEx) for the full year 2025 of only $30 million - $40 million, is a direct result of this value.

The core of this value is seen in a few key 2025 developments:

• Volkswagen Group/PowerCo: The partnership leaped to a new level with the unveiling of the Ducati V21L race motorcycle, powered by QuantumScape's QSE-5 solid-state cells, at the IAA Mobility event. This was a critical field test, not a lab demo.
• Corning and Murata Manufacturing: They announced joint development agreements with these manufacturing giants to develop ceramic separator capabilities, which is a key step in industrializing the technology.
• Customer Billings: For the first time, in Q3 2025, the company recorded $12.8 million in customer billings, a small but meaningful step that validates their commercial viability with partners.

If you want to dive deeper into how these partnerships impact their balance sheet, check out Breaking Down QuantumScape Corporation (QS) Financial Health: Key Insights for Investors.

Operational Execution

For a pre-revenue company, execution is everything. It's about hitting the milestones you set, especially when you're burning cash. For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, the company reported a GAAP net loss of $105.8 million for the third quarter alone, so consistent execution is what keeps investor confidence high.

This value is demonstrated by achieving one of their key annual goals in Q3 2025: the shipment of Cobra-based QSE-5 B1 samples. These B1 samples are the company's most advanced cells to date and represent a major step toward high-volume commercial production. Furthermore, they are installing the highly automated cell production pilot line, the Eagle Line, at their San Jose headquarters to scale up reliability and volume. They are not just developing; they are building the factory floor.

Decarbonization and Sustainability

This value is not just a marketing slogan; it's the core purpose of their technology. Their mission is to revolutionize energy storage to enable a sustainable future, and their product is designed to support the transition away from legacy energy sources.

The solid-state battery platform itself is a sustainability play. It eliminates the need for the graphite anode material, which is dirty, expensive, and presents a supply chain risk. By enabling greater energy density and faster charging, their technology makes electric vehicles (EVs) a more compelling and viable alternative to internal combustion engines, which is the ultimate goal for a lower carbon future. The market-wide shift to EVs is a once-in-a-century event.