Japan's Panasonic has officially announced that March 2024 is the mass production date for their '4680 batteries' that will be supplied to Tesla in the U.S. It has been delayed by about a year from the originally announced 2023. On the other hand, Tesla announced that 4680 batteries will be equipped their the U.S. 'Model Y' cars within this year, and that they will be developing and mass-producing their own 4680 batteries.
Panasonic recently announced that they have secured production facilities to mass-produce cylindrical batteries (standard 4680) to supply Tesla from March 2024. Since rapid production of the 4680 battery is required, it is understood that Panasonic is taking a long enough trial run period to improve the completeness of their mass production technology.
Panasonic will build two production lines at its Wakayama plant in western Japan. The annual production capacity is said to be 10GWh. Local media reported that Panasonic plans to invest 80 billion yen (about 840 billion won) in this plant.
Earlier last month, Tesla announced that they would begin selling 4680 battery equipped Model Y electric vehicles within the first quarter of this year. The 4680 batteries used will have been manufactured at Tesla Road in Austin, Texas, USA. Tesla has now produced about 1 million batteries. As a result, Tesla vehicles are expected to be equipped with 4680 batteries produced by the company over the next year or two.
An industry official said, “Since Panasonic, Tesla’s long-time battery partner, is starting mass production later than originally planned, there is a possibility that products from many competitors, such as LG Energy Solution, will be used by Tesla first," adding, "Tesla has become the first electric vehicle company to be supplied by battery makers”
LG Energy Solution and Samsung SDI are also securing mass production technology for standard 4680 batteries.
By Staff Reporter Tae-jun Park (gaius@etnews.com)