QuantumScape Corp (NYSE: QS) soared as much as 30% on Monday following a landmark live demonstration of its solid-state lithium-metal battery technology at IAA Mobility in Munich.
The company, in collaboration with Volkswagen’s battery unit PowerCo and Ducati, showcased its QSE-5 battery cells powering a modified Ducati V21L race motorcycle – marking the first time an anode-free solid-state battery has been used in a real-world electric vehicle.
Investors responded enthusiastically, viewing the event as a pivotal moment in commercialization of next-gen EV batteries. Today’s rally pushed QuantumScape stock to levels last seen in late July.
What the Ducati demo means for QuantumScape stock
The Ducati showcase is meaningfully positive for QS stock as it wasn’t just a flashy stunt – it was a proof-of-concept that QuantumScape’s technology is moving beyond lab prototypes.
The QSE-5 cells demonstrated fast charging (10% to 80% in just over 12 minutes), high energy density (844 Wh/L), and sustained discharge performance, all while powering a high-performance motorcycle across a live stage.
This marks a tangible step toward real-world integration, validating years of R&D and bolstering investor confidence.
“Today, we’ve crossed the threshold from possibility to reality,” said Dr Siva Sivaram – the firm’s chief executive in the press release, underscoring the shift from theoretical promise to functional product.
With PowerCo’s manufacturing muscle and Ducati’s performance pedigree, QuantumScape shares now have a credible path to scaling the technology for commercial EVs.
Why QS shares still aren’t worth buying today
While the Ducati demo sure is positive for QS shares, they remain a high-risk investment for the second half of 2025.
The NYSE-listed firm is still pre-revenue, burning cash without a clear timeline for profitability. Its valuation – no inflated by speculative enthusiasm – doesn’t reflect the long road ahead in scaling production, securing OEM contracts, and navigating regulatory hurdles.
The $131 million in milestone-based payments from PowerCo is promising, but contingent on future deliverables. Meanwhile, QuantumScape stock continues to face competition from other solid-state battery developers and legacy lithium-ion incumbents.
Without meaningful revenue or mass-market deployment, QS fundamentals remain fragile.
Therefore, for long-term investors, the hype may be premature – especially given the volatility that often follows such headline-driven spikes.
How to play QuantumScape shares in 2025
QuantumScape’s Ducati-powered debut is a milestone worth celebrating, but it doesn’t yet signal a commercial breakthrough that warrants buying QS stock – especially when it’s already up some 200% versus its year-to-date low.
The California-based firm has proven it can build a battery that works in a real vehicle – but scaling that success to millions of EVs is a different challenge entirely.
That’s partially why Wall Street analysts maintain QuantumScape stock at “hold” only – with the mean target of about $6.22 indicating potential “downside” of nearly 40% from current levels.
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