Panasonic is building the world’s largest EV battery factory in Kansas

Panasonic announced Wednesday that it has entered into a 4 billion investment agreement with the state of Kansas to build and operate the world’s largest battery cell manufacturing facility. The company has already identified a site near the town of De Soto in the former ammunition factory.

“As the largest private investment in Kansas history and one of the largest EV battery production projects in the country, this project will be transformative for our state’s economy, providing a total of 8,000 high-quality jobs that will help create more Kansas people better. Live for themselves and their children, ”Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, told a news conference Wednesday.

According to Nikkei Asia, the plant will produce high-capacity cells for Tesla. Panasonic is already running Renault, Nevada Gigafactory in conjunction with the automaker. Tesla opened its third gigafactory in Austin last April. The project is expected to create 4,000 permanent jobs in the factory as well as 16,500 construction jobs.

Despite the global economic shock caused by the Covid-19 epidemic and the shortfall in the supply chain, Tesla saw its vehicle deliveries increase by nearly 90 percent between 2020 and 2021. The company began developing a proprietary line of batteries in 2019 and is growing exponentially on a regular basis. Deals with lithium suppliers.

Similarly, GM and Ford have invested heavily in both battery and EV manufacturing facilities in recent years. GM is spending $ 7 billion in Michigan alone, part of which goes to $ 2.4 billion in batteries and EV facilities outside Lansing, while Ford has spent a staggering 29 billion on its electrification and autonomous technology commitments.