Image: Panasonic
Tesla battery supplier Panasonic is teasing the construction of a new factory in Oklahoma, USA. The factory will be the third manufacturing location of the Japanese company in North America.
Japanese company, Panasonic Holdings, which is Tesla's battery supplier, said on Sunday it was considering building a battery factory in the US, according to Reuters. There is a high possibility that it will be placed in Oklahoma. This factory will be the Japanese company's third manufacturing site in the United States.
“Panasonic has entered into an agreement with the State of Oklahoma that defines the eligibility and terms of the incentives under Oklahoma's LEAD Act,” the company told Reuters in an email. Panasonic was referring to an incentive package the state has set up to attract major companies to its MidAmerica Industrial Park in Pryor.
“There are no other specific decisions that have been made by the Company. We will share more information as it is available,” the statement said.
In March 2022, it was reported that Panasonic is negotiating a new US plant to supply Tesla and possibly other electric vehicle makers with next-generation lithium-ion batteries. The Japanese company considered several sites for a multibillion-dollar plant, including one in Oklahoma and another in Kansas. Ultimately, in November, it was confirmed that Kansas had been selected as the new location. Panasonic said it would start production at the new plant with 2170 battery cells. The company mentioned developing the 4680 battery cells but did not say they would be made at the Kansas factory.
The news that Panasonic is once again considering Oklahoma for its factory is very interesting. If the Kansas factory is making 2170 battery cells, then there is a possibility the Oklahoma factory could make 4680 battery cells.
© 2023, Eva Fox | Tesmanian. All rights reserved.
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Article edited by @SmokeyShorts; follow him on Twitter