According to Nikkei news reports, Panasonic Holdings and Japanese automaker Subaru is expected to announce electric car battery cooperation plan in the near future. Almost all of the electric car batteries currently produced by Panasonic Energy are supplied to Tesla, which is looking to expand its customer sources in the global market as Chinese and South Korean competitors are growing rapidly.
▲ Image source Panasonic Energy’s official website
Reports suggest Subaru may opt to use 4680 batteries made by Panasonic Energy, the latest battery championed by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, which is looking to increase production of the battery.
A Panasonic spokesman said the company is looking at various growth strategies for its automotive business, but had no new information to share. For its part, a Subaru spokeswoman declined to comment, but reports indicate the company relies heavily on the North American market for car sales.
Panasonic is due to release its financial results for the first quarter (April-June) of the new fiscal year next Monday, while Subaru is due to release its results next Wednesday.
Panasonic Energy and Mazda Motor announced in June that they would begin talks on battery supply for electric vehicles. Subaru, for its part, said in May that it aims to sell 200,000 EVs a year in the global market by around 2026.
