Panasonic joins forces with Tesla for futuristic US battery factory
Panasonic and US electric car pioneer Tesla Motors yesterday announced joint plans for a groundbreaking lithium-ion battery cell mega-plant.
Dubbed “The Gigafactor” – whose location is yet to be decided – it will increase production volume by slashing cost-per-unit figures through economies of scale and improvements in logistical arrangements with suppliers.
The announcement builds on the existing collaborative relationship between Panasonic and Tesla, co-founded by entrepreneur Elon Musk, which in 2013 saw Panasonic agree to deliver nearly 2bn lithium-ion battery cells over four years.
The Gigafactory aims to produce 35GWh of cells and 50GWh of battery packs per year by 2020.
Tesla co-founder JB Straubel said: “The Gigafactory represents a fundamental change in the way large scale battery production can be realised.”