By Daniel Leussink and Maki Shiraki
KINOKAWA, Japan (Reuters) – Panasonic Holdings Corp said on Monday its power unit has completed preparations to mass-produce 4680 batteries for electric vehicles as it seeks to start supplying cells to automakers.
The renovated Panasonic Energy plant in western Wakayama Prefecture will serve as the main plant for producing the cells, which the Tesla (NASDAQ:) supplier says have five times more capacity than its smaller cylindrical 2170 batteries.
The larger 4680 cells will allow automakers to extend the driving range of electric vehicles and use fewer cells to achieve the same battery pack capacity, Panasonic Energy said in a statement.
The company held a ceremony to mark the completion of preparations to start mass production of the batteries, showing an inspection line where trays stacked with silver-colored cells could be seen passing through.
A Panasonic spokesman said the company has sent samples of the 4680 batteries to some automakers it already supplies, and plans to start producing the new cells after getting the green light from them.
The company had previously said it planned to start producing 4,680 cells in the first half of the current fiscal year, which began in April.
The Wakayama plant is expected to employ about 400 employees in the development and production of the new batteries by March 2025, and will serve as a test site for processes that can be implemented in other battery factories around the world, the company said.
Panasonic Energy already produces 2170 and 1860 cylindrical EV batteries at its Sumino and Kizuka factories in Japan.