OSAKA, Japan and De SOTO, Kansas — Panasonic Energy Co., Ltd., a Panasonic Group company, announced plans last summer to build a lithium-ion battery manufacturing facility in Kansas. The project is expected to drive significant economic activity and opportunities for the local economy and could create up to 4,000 new jobs and result in an investment of approximately $4 billion.
By October, they had chosen a site in De Soto, Kansas for the project. The Kansas facility will be the company’s second EV battery facility in the U.S., following the Panasonic Energy of North America (PENA) facility in Sparks, Nevada.
Initially, the new manufacturing facility in Kansas will expand the existing production of Panasonic’s 2170 EV batteries, which are currently in high demand from customers. Launching the facility with 2170 batteries ensures Panasonic can begin fulfilling customer orders quickly. Mass production is targeted to begin by the end of March 2025, with the initial production capacity of the new facility expected to be 30 GWh. In a phased approach, the Company will continue to strengthen its lineup of EV batteries and expand its production capacity in North America.
“As the global shift to EVs accelerates, we are looking into ways to strengthen our battery production capacity in North America and meet the growing demand from our automotive partners,” said Kazuo Tadanobu, President, CEO of Panasonic Energy Co., Ltd. “With our superior technology and extensive experience, we will drive the growth of the Li-ion battery industry, accelerate our efforts to achieve zero emissions in the future, and work toward our mission of achieving a society in which the pursuit of happiness and a sustainable environment are harmonized.”
Days later, the company had broken ground, following the approval by the Panasonic Holdings Corporation Board of Directors. Recruitment for the first positions is expected to begin mid-2023 and individuals interested in applying can visit https://na.panasonic.com/us/panasonic-energy.
Panasonic has posted more recent updates about design and construction companies. In addition to the assembly facility, this phase of an overall $4 billion program will include the construction of a central utility plant and support buildings.
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