Japan’s Panasonic is looking to purchase land in the US for a mega-factory to make a new type of electric vehicle battery, public broadcaster NHK reported on Friday.
Panasonic is looking at building the factory, to cost several billion dollars, in either Oklahoma or Kansas, NHK reported.
The main customer for its output would be Tesla, according to the report. A source told the broadcaster that Panasonic has made the project a priority.
It would produce high-capacity lithium-ion batteries that would significantly extend the cruising range of EVs.
Tesla is currently building a new factory in Texas, and Panasonic is looking for suitable land, NHK said.
Panasonic intends to produce the same batteries in Japan at its factory in Wakayama prefecture to develop mass production technology.
As Chinese and South Korean manufacturers are increasing their global market share in EV batteries, Panasonic would focus on increasing its competitiveness by deepening collaboration with Tesla, NHK said.
- George Russell
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