Panasonic has decided to acquire a factory site in the United States in order to strengthen the production of new batteries for EV = electric vehicles.

Assuming supply to the American EV maker Tesla, we would like to hurry to establish mass production technology with a view to making it a large factory with a scale of several hundred billion yen.

According to people familiar with the matter, Panasonic has decided to acquire a factory site in the United States in order to strengthen the production system for new high-capacity lithium-ion batteries that will significantly extend the cruising range of EVs.



The new battery is expected to be supplied to Tesla, the world's largest EV manufacturer.

Tesla is currently building a new factory in Texas, and Panasonic is looking for land near the factory in Oklahoma in the south and Kansas in the Midwest.



The acquisition price is estimated to be in the billions of yen.



As the next step, we are considering the construction of a factory and the introduction of production equipment on a scale of several hundred billion yen, but the company will start the production of the same battery in advance at the factory in Wakayama prefecture, and the cost will be reduced. We are rushing to establish methods to suppress it and mass production technology, and finally make an investment decision.



Chinese and South Korean manufacturers are increasing their global market share in EV batteries, but Panasonic will focus on increasing its competitiveness by deepening collaboration with Tesla.