Panasonic is looking for a new location in the U.S. to build a factory that will produce 4680 Tesla batteries, which will supply the electric car maker with batteries.
According to Bloomberg, Panasonic is in talks with a U.S. factory to supply Tesla and other electric car makers with next-generation lithium-ion batteries. According to them, the Japanese company is considering building a multibillion-dollar factory in several places, one in Oklahoma and the other in Kansas. They say the new plant could start operating as early as 2024.
Although this process is still in its infancy, this plan is undoubtedly a very bold move for Panasonic. Panasonic also said that through its efforts, Panasonic will once again lead the industry in the future.
However, compared to rivals LG Energy Solution and Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Panasonic has been slow to scale up production recently.
Panasonic plans to produce the newly developed, larger and stronger Tesla "4680" battery at a new plant in the United States, the source said. The company may also install production lines for other types of batteries at the new plant, but this will depend directly on consumer demand.
Panasonic said it plans to start mass production of 4680 batteries in Japan in the fiscal year starting in April 2023, but has not yet issued a further statement on the plan.
Earlier in March, Japan's national broadcaster NHK reported that Panasonic was looking for sites to build new plants in Oklahoma and Kansas. The location of these new factories is relatively close to Tesla's new factory in Texas. Tesla's Texas Gigafactory will use structural battery packs and 4680 calls to produce the Model Y.