Panasonic Postpones Expansion of Battery Production for Tesla
Panasonic, one of the main battery suppliers for Tesla, is postponing plans to increase battery production for electric vehicles at its plant in Kansas. It was initially anticipated that the plant would reach its full capacity of 30 GWh by March 2027, but these plans have now been revised. A new date has not been announced yet.
The Kansas plant is Panasonic’s second manufacturing facility in the USA, and approximately $4 billion has already been invested in it. The company also planned to build a third plant, but due to a slowdown in the growth of the EV market, these plans were frozen in 2024.
Tesla’s Impact on the Situation
Problems at Tesla itself can be partially considered a reason. Despite the Model 3 refresh, the company is recording a decline in sales: global deliveries in the second quarter of 2024 fell by 14% compared to the previous year. The main sales are still provided by the Model 3 and Model Y, while the Model S, Model X, and other models account for only a small share.
The tech giant has been collaborating with Tesla since 2010, starting with the first Roadster, and they are currently working together on new 4680 batteries.
Although the full capacity of the Kansas plant will be reached later than expected, production of the new batteries will begin soon. This could become an important step for the further development of the electric vehicle market, especially against the backdrop of an overall decline in demand.
Recent events show that even industry leaders face challenges due to market fluctuations. If the new technologies are successfully launched, the situation could stabilize, but for now, investors and consumers are waiting for clearer signals from both companies.