Panasonic delays 4680 cells production, contract with Lucid confirmed once again

11 May 2023, 02:40:03

Panasonic has released its financial results for the year 2023 so far and expectations for 2024. In the expansive document, there's a section depicting the areas where the company expects growth and one of them is automotive batteries. In order to take advantage of this expected growth, Panasonic mentions three key areas:

Enhancing supply capabilities in the USA - the mass production of 2170 cells from the Kansas gigafactory is set to start in FY3/25.
Expanding customer base in the USA - Panasonic has signed a contract with Lucid to provide batteries for the Lucid Air.
Contract with Hexagon Purus for supplying batteries to commercial vehicles in the USA.
Production of the 4680 cells is re-scheduled "to introduce performance improvement measures that will further enhance competitiveness."

The Kansas gigafactory will start production and sales of 2170 cells during FY3/25 with an annual production of around 30 GWh. The Nevada factory, which already operates, produces 38039 GWh per year. The Japan factory approximates production at around 11-12 GWh annually.

The agreement with Lucid for supplying batteries to its Lucid Air and Lucid Gravity models has been confirmed once again after the official announcement of this in December 2022.

Finally, Panasonic said that the production of 4680 cells is delayed. More than a year ago - in February 2022, Panasonic said that it will commence production of the 4680 cells in March 2024. This would happen in the production facility at its Wakayama Factory in western Japan. However, this latest report says production has been delayed to FY3/25 - that's a year more than the expected March 2024 launch. The 4680 lithium-ion battery cells were introduced at Tesla's Battery Day in September 2020.

Tesla already uses 4680 cells in its 2023 Tesla Model Y AWD that's produced in Gigafactory Texas. The vehicle has already been EPA-certified but there's not much detail about it.

Earlier reports show that other brands are also entering the 4680 cells market. In March 2021, BAK battery said it is ready with its 4680 cell. In June 2022, The Elec reported that Samsung SDI is testing 4680 battery cells for Tesla. Again in June 2022,

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