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QuantumScape Corp

For the period ended Sep 30, 2025. Filed Oct 24, 2025.

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A company's report for each of its first three quarters. The financial statements are not audited. It shows how the business has moved since the last annual report, and what management says changed.

Sep 30, 2025 · Filed Oct 24, 2025

QS$4.28+4.1%Stored close · as of Nov 6, 2026

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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

September 30, 2025

Note 1. Nature of Business

Organization

The original QuantumScape Corporation, now named QuantumScape Battery, Inc. (“Legacy QuantumScape”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (as defined below), was founded in 2010 with the mission to revolutionize energy storage to enable a sustainable future. In 2020, QuantumScape became a publicly traded company (NYSE: QS) through a business combination with a special purpose acquisition company named Kensington Capital Acquisition Corp. (“Kensington”) which changed its name to QuantumScape Corporation upon closing in November 2020 (the “Business Combination”). As a result of the Business Combination, QuantumScape Battery Inc. survived and became a wholly owned subsidiary of QuantumScape Corporation (the “Company”).

The Company is focused on the development and commercialization of its solid-state lithium-metal batteries. Planned principal operations have not yet commenced. As of September 30, 2025, the Company had not derived revenue from its principal business activities.

Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) as determined by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) and pursuant to the regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Certain prior period balances have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation in the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes.

Since 2012, the Company has had a relationship with the Volkswagen Group, including its affiliates Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (“VWGoA”) and Volkswagen Group of America Investments, LLC (“VGA”), collectively referred to as “Volkswagen.” Volkswagen as a related party stockholder is an approximately 25.2% and 24.0% voting interest holder of the Company as of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively.

All intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of commitments and contingencies at the date of the financial statements as well as reported amounts of expenses during the reporting periods. Estimates made by the Company include, but are not limited to, those related to the determination of business milestone achievement dates related to stock awards with performance conditions, among others. The Company bases these estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that it believes are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

The accompanying interim Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2025, the interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss), the interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, and the interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, are unaudited. The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited annual consolidated financial statements and, in management’s opinion, include adjustments consisting of only normal recurring adjustments necessary for the fair statement of the Company’s financial position as of September 30, 2025 and its results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024. The financial data and the other financial information disclosed in the notes to these condensed consolidated financial statements related to the three-month period is also unaudited. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full fiscal year or any other period.

These unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in the Company’s audited annual consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed on February 26, 2025 (the “Annual Report”).

Concentrations of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities. As of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, approximately $86.8 million and $78.7 million of our total cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities, are held in U.S. money market funds, and$659.9 million and $695.5 million are invested in U.S. government and agency securities, respectively. The Company seeks to mitigate its credit risk with respect to cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities by making deposits with what we believe to be large, reputable financial institutions and investing in high credit rated shorter-term instruments.

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

Management considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

Restricted cash is maintained under an agreement that legally restricts the use of such funds and is reported within other assets as the date of availability or disbursement for all restricted cash is more than one year from September 30, 2025.

Restricted cash is comprised of $15.2 million as of September 30, 2025 and $18.0 million as of December 31,2024, all of which is pledged as a form of security for the Company’s lease agreements for its facilities. The restricted cash is maintained in certificates of deposits as of September 30, 2025.

Marketable Securities

The Company’s investment policy is consistent with the definition of available-for-sale securities. The Company does not buy and hold securities principally for the purpose of selling them in the near future. The Company’s policy is focused on the preservation of capital, liquidity, and return. From time to time, the Company may sell certain securities, but the objectives are generally not to generate profits on short-term differences in price.

These securities are carried at estimated fair value with unrealized gains and losses included in other comprehensive gain/loss in stockholders’ equity until realized. Gains and losses on marketable security transactions are reported on the specific-identification method. Dividend and interest income are recognized when earned.

Fair Value Measurement

The Company applies fair value accounting for all financial assets and liabilities measured on a recurring and nonrecurring basis. Fair value is defined as an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or a liability. The accounting guidance established a fair value hierarchy based on three levels of inputs, of which the first two are considered observable and the last unobservable, used to determine the fair value of its financial instruments. A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the entity has the ability to access.

Level 2 – Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets and liabilities.

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets and liabilities.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are recorded at historical cost, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the related asset. Improvements that increase functionality of the fixed asset are capitalized and depreciated over the asset’s remaining useful life. Deposits for purchases of property and equipment are included in construction-in-progress. Construction-in-progress is not depreciated until the asset is placed in service. Fully depreciated assets are retained in property and equipment, net, until removed from service.

The Company reviews the estimated useful lives of its fixed assets on an ongoing basis. The estimated useful lives of assets are generally as follows:

Computer equipment, hardware, and software3 - 5 years
Furniture and fixtures7 - 10 years
Machinery and equipment3 - 10 years
Leasehold improvementsShorter of the lease term (including estimated renewals) or the estimated useful lives of the improvements

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company evaluates the carrying value of long-lived assets when indicators of impairment exist. The carrying value of a long-lived asset is considered impaired when the estimated separately identifiable, undiscounted cash flows from such an asset are less than the carrying value of the asset. In that event, a loss is recognized based on the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the long-lived asset. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 we recorded approximately $9.5 million and $24.4 million in impairment charges, respectively, related to assets no longer in use. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, we recorded approximately $0.3 million and $1.5 million in impairment charges, respectively, related to assets no longer in use. These charges are recorded in Research and Development expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).

Leases

The Company classifies arrangements meeting the definition of a lease as operating or financing leases, and leases are recorded on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as both a right-of-use (“ROU”) asset and lease liability, calculated by discounting fixed lease payments over the lease term at the rate implicit in the lease or the Company’s incremental borrowing rate which is the rate incurred to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term. Lease liabilities are increased by interest and reduced by payments each period, and the ROU asset is reduced over the lease term. For operating leases, interest on the lease liability and the non-cash lease expense result in straight-line rent expense over the lease term. For finance leases, interest on the lease liability and the amortization of the ROU asset results in front-loaded expense over the lease term. Variable lease expenses, including common maintenance fees, insurance and property tax, are recorded when incurred.

In calculating the right-of-use asset and lease liability, the Company elects to combine lease and non-lease components for all classes of assets, and elects to exclude short-term leases having terms of twelve months or less.

Segments

Operating segments are defined as components of an entity for which separate financial information is available and that is regularly reviewed by the Chief Operating Decision Maker (the “CODM”) in deciding how to allocate resources to an individual segment and in assessing performance. The Company’s CODM is its Chief Executive Officer.

The Company has determined that it operates inone operating segment andone reportable segment, as the CODM reviews financial information presented on a consolidated basis. The operating segment has not derived revenue from its business activities as of September 30, 2025. The CODM uses net loss for purposes of making operating decisions, allocating resources, and evaluating financial performance. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 significant expenses include non-cash stock-based compensation of $29.2 million and $96.1 million, depreciation and amortizationof $14.2 million and $52.0 million, write-off of property and equipment of $9.5 million and $24.4 million, personnel costs of $33.4 million and $106.0 million, and professional services and legal contingency costs of $3.8 million and $10.7 million, respectively. Similarly, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, significant expenses include non-cash stock-based compensation of $43.4 million and $110.5 million, depreciation and amortization of $14.9 million and $39.8 million, write-off of property and equipment of $0.3 million and $1.5 million, personnel costs of $38.5 million and $116.3 million, and professional services and legal contingency costs of $6.4 million and $54.8 million, respectively. Other expenses include materials, facilities, other research, development, and administrative expenses, which are recorded within operating expenses. Other segment items included in consolidated net loss are interest income, interest expense, and other income (expense), which are reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, and 2024.

The long-lived assets outside of United States are not material as of September 30, 2025. The measure of segment assets is reported on the balance sheet as total consolidated assets. Refer to the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024 for total consolidated assets.

Research and Development Cost

Costs related to research and development are expensed as incurred.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses represent costs incurred by the Company in managing the business, including salary, benefits, incentive compensation, marketing, insurance, professional fees and other operating costs associated with the Company’s non-research and development activities.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company measures and recognizes compensation expense for all stock-based awards made to employees, directors, and non-employees, including stock options, restricted stock units and restricted shares, based on estimated fair values recognized over the requisite service period. The Company accounts for forfeitures when they occur.

The fair values of options granted with only service conditions are estimated on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. This valuation model for stock-based compensation expense requires the Company to make assumptions and judgments about the variables used in the calculation, including the expected term (weighted-average period of time that the options granted are expected to be outstanding), the volatility of the Company’s common stock, and an assumed risk-free interest rate. The Company recognizes compensation expense for all options with only service conditions on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the awards, which is generally the option vesting term offour years.

The fair values of options granted with performance (e.g., business milestone) and market conditions (e.g., stock price target) are estimated at the grant date using a Monte Carlo simulation model. The model determined the grant date fair value of each vesting tranche and the future date when the market condition for such tranche is expected to be achieved. The Monte Carlo valuation requires the Company to make assumptions and judgements about the variables used in the calculation including the expected term, volatility of the Company’s common stock, an assumed risk-free interest rate, and cost of equity.

For performance-based options with a vesting schedule based on the attainment of both performance and market conditions, along with service conditions, each quarter the Company assesses whether it is probable that it will achieve each performance condition that has not previously been achieved or deemed probable of achievement and if so, the future time when the Company expects to achieve that business milestone, or its “expected business milestone achievement time.” When the Company first determines that a business milestone has become probable of being achieved, the Company allocates the entire expense for the related tranche over the number of quarters between the grant date and the then-applicable “expected vesting date,” which represents the requisite service period. The requisite service period at any given time is generally the period between the grant date and the later of (i) the expected time when the performance condition will be achieved (if the related performance condition has not yet been achieved) and (ii) the expected time when the market condition will be achieved (if the related market condition has not yet been achieved). The Company immediately recognizes a cumulative catch-up expense for all accumulated expense for the quarters from the grant date through the quarter in which the performance condition was first deemed probable of being achieved. Each quarter thereafter, the Company recognizes the then-remaining expense for the tranche through the end of the requisite service period except that upon vesting of a tranche, all remaining expense for that tranche is immediately recognized.

The fair values of restricted stock units granted with service conditions only are based on the closing price of the Company’s Class A Common Stock on the date of grant. The Company recognizes compensation expense for restricted stock units with only service conditions on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the awards, which is generally the award vesting term offour years.

The fair values of restricted stock units granted with service and performance conditions are based on the closing price of the Company’s Class A Common Stock on the grant date. The vesting schedule of such awards is based entirely on the attainment of both service and performance conditions. Each quarter the Company assesses whether it is probable that it will achieve each performance condition and if so, the future time when the Company expects to achieve that performance condition, the “expected vesting date”. When the Company first determines that a performance condition has become probable of being achieved, the Company allocates the entire expense for the related tranche over the number of quarters between the grant date and expected vesting date, which represents the requisite service period. The requisite service period at any given time is generally the period between the grant date and the expected time when the performance condition will be achieved with the service condition also being met.

The Company’s 2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”) is compensatory in accordance with ASC 718-50-25. The Company measures and recognizes compensation expense for shares to be issued under the ESPP based on estimated grant date fair value recognized on a straight-line basis over the offering period.

The ESPP provides eligible employees with the opportunity to purchase shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock at a discount through payroll deductions. There were approximately 0.6 million shares purchased under the ESPP during the nine months ended September 30, 2025. As of September 30, 2025,8.7 million shares of Class A Common Stock were reserved for future issuance under the ESPP.

The Company has established the corporate bonus plan since 2023 to settle in the form of restricted stock units to eligible employees upon the achievement of certain service and performance conditions (“the Bonus Plan”). The awards under the Bonus Plan are classified as a liability prior to the settlement of vested restricted stock units, upon which the liability is reclassified into equity. The Company recognizes compensation expense for the annual Bonus Plan to be settled in restricted stock units on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of approximately a year. The Bonus Plan awards are measured at the grant date fair value, i.e., the closing price of the Company’s Class A Common Stock on the grant date, which is the settlement date.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes under an asset and liability approach. Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes and operating loss carryforwards, measured by applying currently enacted tax laws. Valuation allowances are provided when necessary to reduce net deferred tax assets to an amount that is more likely than not to be realized.

The Company recognizes tax liabilities based upon its estimate of whether, and the extent to which, additional taxes will be due when such estimates are more likely than not to be sustained. An uncertain income tax position will not be recognized if it has less than a 50% likelihood of being sustained.

The Company hasno material provision for income taxes for thethree and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024. The Company hasno material current tax expense from losses andno deferred expense from the valuation allowance. The Company’s effective tax rate differs from the U.S. statutory rate primarily due to a valuation allowance against its net deferred tax assets as it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

Note 3. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-05, Business Combinations - Joint Venture Formations (Subtopic 805-60): Recognition and Initial Measurement, which addresses the accounting for contributions made to a joint venture, upon formation, in a joint venture’s separate financial statements. The ASU is effective prospectively for all joint venture formations with a formation date on or after January 1, 2025. Additionally, a joint venture that was formed before January 1, 2025 may elect to apply the amendments retrospectively. Early adoption is permitted, either prospectively or retrospectively. The Company adopted this guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2025. Theadoption of such guidance hadno impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as the Company does not have any joint venture as of September 30, 2025.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, which enhances the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures. The ASU is effective for all public business entities for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted for annual financial statements that have not yet been issued or made available for issuance. The Company does not expect a material impact from the adoption of this standard on its consolidated financial statements.

In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income—Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses, which requires disclosure of specified information about certain costs and expenses in the notes to financial statements at interim and annual reporting periods. The ASU is effective for all public business entities for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2026 and interim periods within annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027. Early adoption is permitted for annual financial statements that have not yet been issued or made available for issuance. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In September 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-06, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Internal-Use Software, which eliminates accounting consideration of software project development stages and clarifies the threshold applied to begin capitalizing costs. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027 and interim periods within those fiscal years, and permits prospective, modified prospective, or retrospective adoption. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

Note 4. Fair Value Measurement

The Company’s financial assets subject to fair value measurements on a recurring basis and the level of inputs used for such measurements were as follows (amounts in thousands):

Level 1Level 2Total
Assets included in:
Money market funds(1)$86,822$—$86,822
Commercial paper(2)—153,705153,705
U.S. government and agency securities(2)—659,889659,889
Corporate notes and bonds(2)—93,10993,109
Total fair value$86,822$906,703$993,525
Level 1Level 2Total
Assets included in:
Money market funds(1)$78,736$—$78,736
Commercial paper(2)—61,92661,926
U.S. government and agency securities(2)—695,504695,504
Corporate notes and bonds(2)—54,61554,615
Total fair value$78,736$812,045$890,781

(1)

Money market funds are included in cash and cash equivalents on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

(2)

Marketable securities consist of commercial paper, U.S. government and agency securities, corporate notes and bonds. As of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, marketable securities with original maturities of three months or less of $128.8 million and$42.1 million, respectively, are included in cash and cash equivalents on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Level 1 assets: Money market funds are classified as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy, as fair value is based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets.

Level 2 assets: Investments in commercial paper, U.S. government and agency securities, and corporate notes and bonds are classified as Level 2 as they were valued based upon quoted market prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant inputs are observable in the market or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets.

The Company hadno financial liabilities subject to fair value measurements on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024.

There have been no changes to the valuation methods utilized during the nine months ended September 30, 2025. As of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate their respective fair values due to their short-term nature.

Marketable Securities

The following table summarizes, by major security type, the Company’s assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and are categorized using the fair value hierarchy. Amortized cost net of unrealized gain (loss) is equal to fair value as of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024. The fair value as of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024 are as follows (amounts in thousands):

Amortized CostGross Unrealized GainGross Unrealized LossFair Value
Level 1 securities
Money market funds$86,822$—$—$86,822
Level 2 securities
Commercial paper153,705——153,705
U.S. government and agency securities659,430466(7)659,889
Corporate notes and bonds93,02586(2)93,109
Total$992,982$552$(9)$993,525
Amortized CostGross Unrealized GainGross Unrealized LossFair Value
Level 1 securities
Money market funds$78,736$—$—$78,736
Level 2 securities
Commercial paper61,926——61,926
U.S. government and agency securities695,082436(14)695,504
Corporate notes and bonds54,60928(22)54,615
Total$890,353$464$(36)$890,781

Realized gains and losses and interest income from the investment are included in interest income.

The Company regularly reviews its available-for-sale marketable securities in an unrealized loss position and evaluates the current expected credit loss by considering factors such as historical experience, market data, issuer-specific factors, and current economic conditions. The following tables display additional information regarding gross unrealized losses and fair value by major security type for the 9 and 17 marketable securities in unrealized loss positions held by the Company as of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively (amounts in thousands):

Less than 12 Consecutive Months12 Consecutive Months or LongerTotal
Gross Unrealized LossFair ValueGross Unrealized LossFair ValueGross Unrealized LossFair Value
U.S. government and agency securities$(7)$71,558$—$—$(7)$71,558
Corporate notes and bonds(2)6,488——(2)6,488
Total$(9)$78,046$—$—$(9)$78,046
Less than 12 Consecutive Months12 Consecutive Months or LongerTotal
Gross Unrealized LossFair ValueGross Unrealized LossFair ValueGross Unrealized LossFair Value
U.S. government and agency securities$(14)$96,988$—$—$(14)$96,988
Corporate notes and bonds(19)33,111(3)1,063(22)34,174
Total$(33)$130,099$(3)$1,063$(36)$131,162

The unrealized losses were attributable to changes in interest rates that impacted the value of the investments, and not increased credit risk. There wereno sales of available-for-sale marketable securities during thethree and nine months ended September 30, 2025. There wereno sales of available-for-sale marketable securities during thethree months ended September 30, 2024, and during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 the Company received proceeds of $1.2 million, including interest, from the sale of available-for-sale marketable securities. The Company realized immaterial gains as a result of such sale. The Company does not intend to sell the investments that are in an unrealized loss position, nor is it more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the investments before the recovery of the amortized cost basis, which may be its maturity. Accordingly, the Company didnot record an allowance for credit losses associated with these investments.

The estimated amortized cost and fair value of available-for-sale securities by contractual maturity as of September 30, 2025 are as follows (amounts in thousands):

Amortized CostFair Value
Due within one year$992,982$993,525
Due after one year and through five years——
Total$992,982$993,525

Note 5. Balance Sheet Components

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment as of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024 consisted of the following (amounts in thousands):

September 30,December 31
20252024
Computer equipment, hardware, and software$7,843$7,831
Furniture and fixtures124,298107,886
Leasehold improvements110,756115,879
Machinery and equipment160,664161,460
Construction-in-progress29,26661,935
Property and equipment, gross432,827454,991
Accumulated depreciation and amortization(182,504)(154,999)
Property and equipment, net$250,323$299,992

Depreciation and amortization expense related to property and equipment was $13.9 million and $14.8 million for thethree months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively. Depreciation and amortization expense related to property and equipment was $51.3 million and $39.3 million for thenine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively.

Accrued Liabilities

Accrued liabilities as of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024 consisted of the following (amounts in thousands):

September 30,December 31,
20252024
Litigation-related accrual$3,900$11,950
Accrued property and equipment2,793975
Other7,3014,522
Accrued liabilities$13,994$17,447

Note 6. Leases

The Company leases its facilities and certain equipment, with current lease terms running through 2032. The Company did not include renewal options in the calculation of the lease liability and right-of use asset at the lease inception unless the exercise of such options was reasonably certain. Fixed rent generally escalates each year, and the Company is responsible for a portion of the landlords’ operating expenses such as property tax, insurance and common area maintenance.

The Company’s leases include various operating leases expiring at various dates through September 2032 and a finance lease expiring September 2032 for one of our buildings in San Jose. Many leases include options to renew. The Company does not assume renewals in our determination of the lease term unless the renewals are deemed to be reasonably certain.

The Company’s leases do not have any contingent rent payments and do not contain residual value guarantees.

In July 2025, the Company entered into a Lease Termination Agreement to terminate the Company’s lease for certain premises outside of the Company’s headquarters, consisting of approximately 80,641 rentable square feet of space located in San Jose, California, effective as of August 1, 2025. The original term of the Lease commenced on November 1, 2021 and was to expire on September 30, 2032. The Company recognized a loss of approximately $8.3 million on its Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, which includes the impairment charge of approximately $7.6 million related to leasehold improvements and a lease termination loss of approximately $0.7 million.

The components of lease related expense are as follows (amounts in thousands):

Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
Lease costs2025202420252024
Finance lease costs:
Amortization of right-of-use assets$718$718$2,155$2,155
Interest on lease liabilities5035501,5471,684
Operating lease costs1,6972,2536,2036,745
Variable lease costs7968003,0942,456
Total lease expense$3,714$4,321$12,999$13,040

The components of supplemental cash and non-cash information related to leases are as follows (amounts in thousands):

Nine Months Ended September 30,
20252024
Operating outgoing cash flows - finance lease$1,547$1,684
Financing outgoing cash flows - finance lease2,3882,146
Operating outgoing cash flows - operating lease6,2456,605
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities528777

The table below displays additional information for leases as of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024:

September 30, 2025December 31, 2024
Finance lease
Weighted-average remaining lease term - finance lease (in years)7.07.8
Weighted-average discount rate - finance lease6.06%6.06%
Operating lease
Weighted-average remaining lease term - operating lease (in years)6.97.7
Weighted-average discount rate - operating lease6.52%6.34%

As of September 30, 2025, future minimum payments during the next five years and thereafter are as follows (amounts in thousands):

Fiscal YearOperating LeasesFinance Lease
2025 (remaining three months)$1,742$1,335
20267,0975,417
20277,2545,566
20287,1105,719
20297,1295,876
20307,3436,038
Thereafter12,73010,433
Total50,40540,384
Less present value discount(10,119)(7,675)
Lease liabilities$40,286$32,709

As the Company’s lease agreements do not provide an implicit rate, the Company used an estimated incremental borrowing rate that will be incurred to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term at the lease commencement date or modification date in determining the present value of lease payments.

Asset Retirement Obligations

The Company establishes assets and liabilities for the present value of estimated future costs to return certain of our leased facilities to their original condition upon the termination or expiration of a lease. The recognition of an asset retirement obligation requires the Company to make assumptions and judgments including the actions required to satisfy the liability, inflation rates and the credit-adjusted risk-free rate. The initially recognized asset retirement cost is amortized using the same method and useful life as the long-lived asset to which it relates. Accretion expense is recognized over time as the discounted liability is accreted to its expected settlement value. The Company recorded asset retirement obligation of approximately $13.6 million and $12.4 million as of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively, in Other liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Note 7. Commit ments and Contingencies

From time to time, and in the ordinary course of business, the Company is subject to certain claims, charges and litigation concerning matters arising in connection with the conduct of the Company’s business activities.

Shareholder Derivative Litigation

Two shareholder derivative suits were filed in February 2021 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against 11 officers and directors of the Company and have been consolidated into one action, with the first-filed complaint being designated the operative one. The Company is the nominal defendant. The complaint alleges that the individual defendants breached various duties to the Company and contains similar allegations to the settled and dismissed securities class action brought against the Company and three of its executives in January 2021, in which it was alleged that materially false and misleading statements were made concerning the Company’s business, operations, and prospects, including information regarding its battery technology. VGA is also named as a defendant in the derivative litigation. The action is currently stayed. A shareholder derivative suit was filed in October 2024 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against current and former officers and directors of the Company and VGA alleging breaches of duties to the Company. The Company is the nominal defendant. The action was deemed related to the consolidated action and is currently stayed.

In June through August 2022, four shareholder derivative suits were filed in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware against current and former directors and officers of the Company. The Company is the nominal defendant. The complaints allege that the individual defendants breached various duties to the Company. VGA is also named as a defendant in three of those actions. In September 2022, the four actions were consolidated and stayed. A consolidated amended complaint was filed on July 30, 2024.

A shareholder derivative action was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware on February 22, 2024, against current and former directors and officers of the Company. The Company is the nominal defendant. The complaint alleges that the individual defendants breached various duties to the Company and includes a claim for contribution related to the securities class action that was brought against the Company and three of its executives in January 2021 and subsequently settled and dismissed. The complaint also alleges that plaintiff previously sent a litigation demand to the Board and alleges that the demand has effectively been rejected. The action is currently stayed.

Two additional shareholder derivative actions were filed in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware in May 2024 and October 2024, against current and former directors and officers of the Company. The Company is the nominal defendant. The complaints allege that the individual defendants breached various duties to the Company. The complaints also allege that the plaintiffs previously sent a litigation demand to the Board and allege that the demands had effectively been rejected. The action filed in May 2024 is currently stayed.

Private Attorneys General Actions

The Company is a defendant in two Private Attorneys General Act (“PAGA”) wage-and-hour actions filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court by former employees, along with a related class action in arbitration. The complaints allege violations of California’s Labor Code. The actions are presently stayed. The Company denies the allegations. In April 2025, the parties reached an agreement in principle to settle the claims.

For many legal matters, particularly those in early stages, the Company cannot reasonably estimate the possible loss (or range of loss), if any. The Company records an accrual for legal matters at the time or times it determines that a loss is both probable and reasonably estimable. As of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the amount accrued for each matter was individually not material, and the aggregate amount accrued was approximately $4.0 million as of September 30, 2025 and $12 million as of December 31, 2024. Regarding matters for which no accrual has been made (including the potential for losses in excess of amounts accrued), the Company currently believes, based on its own investigations, that any losses (or ranges of losses) that are reasonably possible and estimable will not, in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. However, the ultimate outcome of legal proceedings involves judgments, estimates, and inherent uncertainties and cannot be predicted with certainty. Should the ultimate outcome of any legal matter be unfavorable, the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows could be materially and adversely affected. The Company may also incur substantial legal fees, which are expensed as incurred, in defending against legal claims.

Other commitments

The Company’s minimum purchase commitments consist of non-cancellable agreements to purchase goods and services, primarily for materials, and licenses and hosting services, entered into in the ordinary course of business.

As of September 30, 2025, future minimum purchase commitments in aggregate during the next five years and thereafter are as follows (amounts in thousands):

Fiscal YearMinimum Purchase Commitments
2025 (remaining three months)$1,439
20262,646
20271,923
2028259
Thereafter—
Total$6,267

Note 8. Stockholders’ Equity

As of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024,1,350,000,000 shares, $0.0001 par value per share, are authorized, of which,1,000,000,000 shares are designated as Class A Common Stock,250,000,000 shares are designated as Class B Common Stock, and 100,000,000 shares are designated as Preferred Stock.

Common Stock

Holders of common stock are entitled to dividends when, as, and if, declared by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), subject to the rights of the holders of all classes of stock outstanding having priority rights to dividends. As of September 30, 2025, the Company had not declared any dividends. The holder of each share of Class A Common Stock is entitled to one vote, and the holder of each share of Class B Common Stock is entitled to ten votes.

In August 2023, the Company completed an underwritten public offering of 37.5 million shares of its Class A Common Stock for an aggregate purchase price of $288.2 million, net of issuance costs of $11.8 million (the “August 2023 Public Offering”).

In February 2023, the Company entered into separate Distribution Agreements with J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Cowen and Company, LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and UBS Securities LLC, as sales agents, pursuant to which the Company issued and sold, from time to time, common stock with an aggregate offering price of $400 million (the “ATM offering”) under the prospectus supplement dated February 28, 2023 to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Form S-3”). During the year ended December 31, 2024,24.9 million shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock were sold pursuant to the ATM offering for aggregate proceeds of approximately $128.5 million, net of issuance costs paid. During thethree and nine months ended September 30, 2025,29.3 million and 29.5 million shares of Class A Common Stock were sold pursuant to the ATM offering for aggregate proceeds of approximately $263.3 million and $264.2 million, net of issuance costs, respectively, completing the ATM offering. The Form S-3 expired in August 2025.

Equity Incentive Plans

Prior to the Business Combination, the Company maintained its 2010 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2010 Plan”), under which the Company granted options and restricted stock units to purchase or directly issue shares of common stock to employees, directors, and non-employees.

Upon the closing of the Business Combination, awards under the 2010 Plan were converted at an exchange ratio of 4.02175014920, and assumed into the 2020 Equity Incentive Award Plan (the “2020 Plan”, and together with the 2010 Plan, the “Plans”). The 2020 Plan permits the granting of awards in the form of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted stock units and performance awards to employees, directors, and non-employees.

As of September 30, 2025,136,592,934 shares of Class A Common Stock are authorized for issuance pursuant to awards under the 2020 Plan, plus any shares of Class A Common Stock subject to stock options, restricted stock units or other awards that were assumed in the Business Combination and terminate as a result of being unexercised or are forfeited or repurchased by the Company, with the maximum number of shares to be added to the 2020 Plan equal to 69,846,580 shares of Class A Common Stock.

Stock Options

Stock option activity under the Plans, including the EPA Program discussed below, is as follows:

Number ofSharesOutstanding (in thousands)WeightedAverageExercise PriceWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm(Years)Intrinsic value(in thousands)
Balance as of December 31, 2024(1)24,043$7.364.21
Cancelled and forfeited(2)(5,039)23.04—
Expired(35)6.13—
Exercised(12,562)1.72—
Balance as of September 30, 20256,407$6.104.02$48,886
Vested and expected to vest as of September 30, 2025(3)5,903$4.653.83$48,886
Vested and exercisable as of September 30, 20255,567$3.543.68$48,886

(1)This includes 5.9 million options granted and outstanding as of December 31, 2024 pursuant to the EPA Program.

(2)This represents options cancelled and forfeited under the EPA Program.

(3)This includes 0.3 million options granted pursuant to the EPA Program that are expected to vest as of September 30, 2025. None of the options granted pursuant to the EPA Program were vested and exercisable as of September 30, 2025.

There wereno options granted during thenine months ended September 30, 2025 or September 30, 2024. The aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised during the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 was $54.3 million and$31.3 million, respectively.

Excluding options granted pursuant to the EPA Program, as of September 30, 2025, there wasno unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options.

EPA Program

In December 2021, the Company granted stock options for the purchase of an aggregate of approximately 14.7 million shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer at the time and other members of the Company’s management team pursuant to the EPA Program that was approved by the Company’s stockholders in December 2021. In December 2022, the remaining 2.1 million stock options under the EPA Program were granted to members of the Company’s management team under the same terms as those in the initial grant in 2021, representing the final grant pursuant to the EPA Program approved in December 2021. The EPA Program consists offive equal tranches (each a “Tranche”) that vest if the Company meets certain business milestones (performance conditions) and stock price targets (market conditions).

The Company accounts for the compensation expense associated with each Tranche when it determines that achievement of a related business milestone is considered probable. As of September 30, 2025, the business milestone forone Tranche had been achieved; however, because the related stock price target has not yet been achieved, no shares have vested to date. As of September 30, 2025, one other Tranche was considered probable.

In February 2025, certain named executive officers and certain other senior employees entered into agreements with the Company to waive the stock options granted to them under the Company’s 2021 Extraordinary Performance Award Program. The total number of shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock underlying such waived stock options was 3,989,584. As such, these stock options were cancelled in February 2025. The remaining number of shares outstanding under the EPA Program is approximately 0.8 million as of September 30, 2025.

For the three months ended September 30, 2025, the Company recorded an immaterial credit to stock-based compensation expense primarily due to forfeited awards in the current period related to the EPA Program. For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, the Company recorded stock-based compensation expense of $4.7 million related to the EPA Program, net of expense including $5.7 million for the EPA awards cancelled in February 2025 where the unamortized expense was fully recognized offset by the forfeitures of awards. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company recorded $0.9 million in stock-based compensation expense and a credit in stock-based compensation expense of $13.9 million for the EPA Program, respectively, primarily due to the reversal of the previously recognized expense for the options where the requisite service period had not been completed at the time of forfeiture. As of September 30, 2025, the Company had immaterial total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense for the business milestones currently achieved or considered probable of achievement, which will be recognized over an estimated weighted-average period of 1.6 years. As of September 30, 2025, the Company had approximately $4.4 million of total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense for the business milestones currently considered not probable of achievement.

Restricted Stock Units Activities

In 2023 and 2024, the Company granted 4.4 million and 4.2 million shares of restricted stock units with service and performance conditions (“PSU”), respectively, to members of the Company’s management team and certain other employees under the Company’s 2020 Plan. The performance conditions for these PSUs are related to the Company’s product development milestones through May 2026, and May 2027, respectively. These PSUs will expire in May 2026 and May 2027, respectively, if performance conditions are not met. During thenine months ended September 30, 2025, the Company granted 5.4 million shares of PSUs to members of the Company’s management team and certain other employees. The performance conditions for these PSUs are related to the Company’s product development milestones through May 2028. These PSUs will expire in May 2028 if performance conditions are not met. For thethree and nine months ended September 30, 2025, the Company recorded stock-based compensation expense of $3.7 million and $10.5 million, respectively, related to these PSUs. For thethree and nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company recorded stock-based compensation expense of $9.0 million and $24.2 million, respectively, related to these PSUs, for the product development milestones achieved or considered probable of achievement.

The Company’s Bonus Plan is settled in the form of restricted stock units to eligible employees upon the achievement of certain service and performance conditions. These performance conditions are related to the Company’s product development, operational, and business milestones for the year. The stock-based compensation expense related to the Bonus Plan were recorded as liabilities under Accrued compensation and benefits prior to the settlement of vested restricted stock units, upon which the liability is reclassified into equity. In February 2025, approximately 4.3 million restricted stock units were granted and vested under the 2024 Bonus Plan for final settlement, resulting in approximately $20.2 million in additional paid in capital. For the three months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, the Company recorded $4.4 million and $5.1 million, respectively, to stock-based compensation related to the current year Bonus Plan. For the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, the Company recorded stock-based compensation expense of approximately $11.5 million and $15.9 million, respectively, related to the current year and prior year Bonus Plans. No shares have been granted under the 2025 Bonus Plan as of September 30, 2025.

Restricted stock units with service conditions only (“RSU”) and PSU activities under the Plans are as follows:

RSUs OutstandingPSUs Outstanding
Number ofUnits(in thousands)WeightedAverage GrantDate Fair ValueNumber ofUnits(in thousands)WeightedAverage GrantDate Fair Value
Balance as of December 31, 202426,875$7.516,575$6.92
Granted20,7463.669,6984.13
Vested(8,929)8.01(6,998)5.65
Forfeited(6,413)6.14(1,021)5.17
Balance as of September 30, 202532,279$5.178,254$4.94

The fair value of RSUs which vested during the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and September 30, 2024 was $57.4 million and $46.0 million, respectively. The fair value of PSUs which vested during thenine months ended September 30, 2025 was $32.9 million in total, consisting of the final settlement under the 2024 Bonus Plan and the PSUs granted to the management team and certain other employees. The fair value of PSUs which vested during thenine months ended September 30, 2024 was $29.2 million, which was the final settlement under the 2023 Bonus Plan, the interim payout under the 2024 Bonus Plan, and the PSUs granted to the management team and certain other employees.

As of September 30, 2025, unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to unvested RSUs and PSUs were $151.8 million and $17.9 million, respectively, and are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.7 years and 1.4 years, respectively.

Stock-Based Compensation Expense

Total stock-based compensation expense recognized in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss for all awards is as follows (amounts in thousands):

Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
2025202420252024
Research and development$19,180$25,947$62,087$74,765
General and administrative10,04317,41234,03035,706
Total stock-based compensation expense$29,223$43,359$96,117$110,471

Note 9. Earnings (Loss) Per Share

Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share adjusts basic earnings per share for the potentially dilutive impact of stock options. As the Company has reported a loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, potentially dilutive securities are antidilutive and accordingly, basic net loss per share equals diluted net loss per share.

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted loss per Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock (amounts in thousands, except per share amounts):

Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
2025202420252024
Numerator:
Net loss attributable to common stockholders$(105,824)$(119,572)$(334,945)$(363,195)
Denominator:
Weighted average Class A and Class B Common Stock outstanding - Basic and Diluted588,728508,957566,293502,136
Net loss per share attributable to Class A and Class B Common stockholders - Basic and Diluted$(0.18)$(0.23)$(0.59)$(0.72)

Basic and diluted earnings per share was the same for each period presented as the inclusion of all potential Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock outstanding would have been anti-dilutive.

The following table presents the potential common stock outstanding that was excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share of common stock as of the periods presented because including them would have been antidilutive (amounts in thousands):

As of September 30,
20252024
Options6,40726,489
RSUs32,27929,594
PSUs9,28410,686
Total47,97066,769

Note 10. Related Party Transactions

In July 2025, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Collaboration Agreement (the “Amendment”) with PowerCo SE (“PowerCo”), a battery cell company wholly owned by the Volkswagen Group, which is a major investor in the Company with approximately 25.2% of the Company's voting power, for the industrialization of QS’s QSE-5 solid-state lithium metal battery technology.

Under the Amendment, QS and PowerCo entered into a statement of work outlining the scope and responsibilities of the joint scale-up team working on the Company’s battery development. PowerCo has agreed that it will contribute up to $130.7 million for the project over the next two years, subject to the completion of certain technical milestones and other project goals by the joint scale-up team. The Amendment does not require the Company to repay funds contributed under the statement of work, and there are no restrictions on the use of the cash receipts. Under the Amendment, the Company recognizes costs as expenses in the period incurred. Payments from PowerCo will initially be recorded as a liability upon receipt. This liability will be reclassified to APIC in shareholders’ equity upon extinguishment.

The Company determined that such payments should be accounted for as a liability in accordance with ASC 730-20 Research and Development Arrangements, as there is a presumption of a repayment obligation due to the significant related party relationship between the parties. Further, ASC 470-50 Debt – Modifications and Extinguishments indicates extinguishment transactions between related entities may be in essence capital transactions. Therefore, the Company determined that the extinguishment will be accounted for as a capital transaction and reflected as an increase to APIC with no shares to be issued. As of September 30, 2025, no such payments had been received from PowerCo.

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