Panasonic Energy

2170 · 4680 · Nevada · Kansas

Panasonic Energy makes cylindrical lithium-ion cells, mostly for Tesla, in Nevada, Kansas and Japan. With Tesla's demand flat, it is leaning on backup batteries for AI data centers to grow.

Flow diagram of Panasonic Energy from plant to product to customer. Gigafactory Nevada in Sparks makes 2170 NCA cells for the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y. De Soto, Kansas makes 2170 cells for Tesla and others. Wakayama, Japan makes 4680 cells for an undisclosed customer. Other Japanese plants make cylindrical cells for Lucid, Mazda and Subaru. Pack lines build backup battery units for AI data centers. Most of Panasonic's EV cell output goes to Tesla. PANASONIC ENERGY: PLANT TO CELL TO CUSTOMER PLANTPRODUCTCUSTOMER Nevada (Sparks) 2170 NCA cells Tesla Model 3, Y Kansas (De Soto) 2170 cells Tesla and others Wakayama, Japan 4680 cells Not disclosed Japan plants Cylindrical cells Lucid, Mazda, Subaru Pack lines Backup battery units AI data centers Most Panasonic EV cell output goes to Tesla.
HQ
Osaka, Japan
EV share
3.7% (2025)
Sector
Battery cells
Hub
OEMs

Finding

Panasonic Energy installed 44.2 GWh of EV cells in 2025, 3.7% of the world market and seventh place, and most of it went into Teslas.

Gigafactory Nevada, run inside Tesla's building since 2017, is still its largest plant. The De Soto, Kansas plant started production in July 2025, with its ramp slowed to match Tesla's demand.

Panasonic Energy is the battery arm of Panasonic Holdings (6752, Tokyo). It took over Sanyo's cell business in 2009-2011 and has supplied Tesla since the Model S, first with 18650 cells from Japan and since 2017 with 2170 cells from Nevada. It makes only cylindrical cells for EVs; the prismatic Toyota business sits in Prime Planet Energy & Solutions, a Toyota-controlled joint venture in which Panasonic holds a minority stake.

Panasonic has tried to widen its customer base beyond Tesla. Lucid buys its cylindrical cells, and Mazda and Subaru signed supply agreements for EVs they plan to build in Japan later in the decade. Its 4680 cell has been in pilot production at Wakayama since 2024, behind schedule. On the materials side it has US supply deals for graphite from Novonix and Nouveau Monde, silicon anode material from Sila, and recycled cathode and copper foil from Redwood Materials in Nevada.

Chinese makers are its main competitors in large cylindrical cells: EVE Energy and CATL supply 46-series cells to BMW's Neue Klasse. Panasonic's fastest-growing battery business outside cars is backup battery units (BBU) that keep AI servers running through power interruptions.

Plants

Plants and factories

Battery plants only; Panasonic's other businesses are left out.

Panasonic Energy battery plants
PlantLocationProductsStatus
Gigafactory NevadaSparks, Nevada, US2170 NCA cells for TeslaOperating since 2017
De SotoKansas, US2170 cellsOperating since 2025; ramp slowed
WakayamaWakayama, Japan4680 cells; 2170 cellsOperating; 4680 behind schedule
SuminoeOsaka, JapanCylindrical cells; R&DOperating
TokushimaTokushima, JapanCylindrical cellsOperating
SumotoHyogo, JapanCylindrical cellsOperating

Battery

Battery cells and lines

Deployment by sector is on the Panasonic Battery Platforms index; materials background on EV Battery Anode Materials and Graphite Refining.

Panasonic Energy chemistries and formats
ChemistryFormatMain usesNotes
NCA (high nickel, low cobalt)2170Tesla Model 3 and Model Y (US), LucidCore volume product
NCA18650Tesla Model S and Model X; industrialOriginal Tesla format
High nickel4680Not disclosedWakayama; mass production delayed
Prismatic NMCPrismaticToyota hybrids and EVsPrime Planet Energy & Solutions (minority stake)
MaterialsUpstreamGraphite, silicon anode, cathodeNovonix, Nouveau Monde, Sila, Redwood Materials, Sumitomo Metal Mining

Products

Products

Panasonic Energy product lines
ProductTypeWhat it does
2170 cellCylindrical EV cellHigh-nickel cell for Tesla and Lucid packs
4680 cellLarge cylindrical EV cellFewer cells per pack; lower assembly cost
18650 cellCylindrical cellLegacy EV packs, power tools and industrial uses
Data center BBUBackup battery unitRack-level backup power for AI servers
EverVoltHome batteryResidential storage paired with solar (US)

OEM customers

OEM customers and programs

Representative programs only.

Panasonic Energy OEM customers and programs
CustomerProgramsSupply
TeslaModel 3, Model Y (US), Model S, Model X2170 and 18650 cells from Nevada, Kansas and Japan
LucidAir, GravityCylindrical cells
MazdaJapan-built EVs, later this decadeCylindrical cells
SubaruJapan-built EVs, later this decadeCylindrical cells
ToyotaHybrids and EVsPrismatic cells through Prime Planet Energy & Solutions
Customer list will be fed from the battery dataset

Beyond vehicles

Robots, autonomy and energy

Panasonic Energy programs beyond EV cells
ProgramAreaStatus
Data center BBUBackup power for AI data centersMain growth line outside EV cells
EverVoltResidential storageSold through US solar installers
Industrial cellsPower tools, mobility, industrial equipmentCylindrical cells from Japan

Partners

Suppliers and customers

Panasonic Energy key partners
PartnerRoleRelationship
TeslaCustomer and landlordGigafactory Nevada partner since 2017
ToyotaJoint venture partnerPrime Planet Energy & Solutions
Redwood MaterialsSupplierRecycled cathode material and copper foil, Nevada
Sumitomo Metal MiningSupplierNCA cathode material
NovonixSupplierSynthetic graphite anode material
Nouveau Monde GraphiteSupplierNatural graphite anode material
SilaSupplierSilicon anode material
Lucid, Mazda, SubaruCustomersCylindrical cell supply

Sources

Sources and scope

Scope
Panasonic Energy
Sources
SNE Research via CnEVPost (February 2026); Panasonic Holdings and Panasonic Energy releases (Kansas, 4680, supply agreements)
Updated
October 2026