The construction site should start in early 2023, in order to allow the launch of mass production of lithium-ion batteries by the end of 2025, according to a joint press release from the two groups, which will found a dedicated joint venture.

The precise location of this future factory has not yet been finalized, but it could be, according to Bloomberg, Ohio.

This Midwestern state already hosts several Honda auto plants, which also produce cars for its high-end Acura brand.

The site will have an annual generation capacity of around 40 gigawatt hours (GWh), according to the release.

Number two in the Japanese car industry, Honda has set itself the goal of becoming 100% electric by 2040 worldwide in 2021.

To do this, the group announced in April that it intended to invest 5,000 billion yen (37 billion euros) in the next ten years in electrification.

It plans to launch 30 electric models by 2030 across all of its ranges.

In North America, one of its key markets, Honda is already allied with the American giant General Motors in electric vehicles and batteries, but this partnership is not exclusive.

As one of the world leaders in electric batteries, LG Energy is already a close associate of General Motors, with which it has four megabattery factory projects in the United States.

The South Korean is also a partner of the manufacturers Stellantis (parent company of the Chrysler, Citroën, Fiat, Opel and Peugeot brands in particular) and Hyundai in particular.

Riding on the success of Tesla, the North American market for electric vehicles is rapidly expanding and increasingly encouraged by local authorities.

Last week, the state of California passed a law banning the sale of new diesel and gasoline cars from 2035, a first in the United States, and other states in the country are expected to follow.

The Japanese Panasonic said in mid-July it planned to build a new electric battery factory in Kansas (central United States) for 4 billion dollars, its second in the country after the first "gigafactory" it operates in the Nevada (west) with Tesla since 2017.

Panasonic is also planning to establish another battery factory in Oklahoma for $4 billion as well, the Wall Street Journal reported late last week.

Asked by AFP, the Japanese firm has not confirmed this information for the moment.

© 2022 AFP