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

11 May 2023, 02:40:03

Add as a preferred source on Google 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,

News related to Panasonic, tesla or 4680

Tesla has introduced the Tesla Model Y L Premium to the U.S. market, pricing it at USD 61,990 - around USD 14,000 higher than its launch price in China last year. While the American version mirrors the Chinese model in design and hardware, several dimensional figures differ slightly. These variations appear to stem from unit conversion, yet Tesla lists them officially, so they are presented exactly as provided. The...

2 July 2026

Stellantis electric‑vehicle owners across North America now have significantly expanded fast‑charging options, thanks to newly enabled access to more than 27,500 Tesla Supercharger locations. The move marks a major step in the company’s strategy to simplify public charging and strengthen its EV ecosystem. Beginning today, drivers of battery‑electric models from Dodge, Jeep, Ram, FIAT, and Maserati can plug into...

20 March 2026

According to newly released data from the China Passenger Car Association, the country’s auto market saw a noticeable slowdown in February, with total wholesale passenger car volume reaching 1.518 million units. This represents a 14.3 percent drop compared to last year and a 23 percent decline from January. Despite the overall market pressure, new energy vehicles continued to perform strongly, reaching 723,000...

12 March 2026

Elon Musk has revealed a new collaborative initiative between Tesla and his artificial intelligence company xAI, introducing a system he calls Macrohard, also referred to as Digital Optimus. The project is designed to emulate the functions of software companies by combining xAI's Grok large language model with a Tesla‑developed AI agent capable of interpreting real‑time computer screen activity and user inputs. Musk...

12 March 2026

Tesla is ending production of its slow‑selling flagship vehicles, the Model S and Model X, as the company shifts its priorities toward robotics and artificial intelligence. During the fourth‑quarter 2025 earnings call, CEO Elon Musk confirmed that both models will be discontinued to free manufacturing capacity for the Optimus humanoid robot. He described the move as an "honorable discharge" for the long‑running S/X...

29 January 2026

Germany's TÜV has issued its 2026 report for the available passenger car park in the country. The report highlights rising defect rates in Germany's car fleet, an aging vehicle population, and the growing role of electric vehicles in safety inspections. The study is based on ~9.5 million inspections performed between July 2024 and June 2025, covering 216 models across six vehicle classes and six age groups. Some of...

4 December 2025

South Korea's LG Chem has been selected to supply cathode materials for Panasonic's battery production in North America, according to industry sources. This marks LG Chem's first direct deal with Panasonic, whose primary customer in the region is Tesla. Previously, LG Chem supplied cathodes to Prime Planet Energy & Solutions, a joint venture between Toyota and Panasonic. Panasonic operates a Gigafactory in Nevada...

23 October 2025

Tesla launched the Model Y Standard in Europe. There's no Model 3 Standard for now. The Long Range Model Y models have also been renamed to Model Y Premium RWD and AWD, respectively. Just like in the U.S., the European Model Y Standard arrives with smaller 18-inch Aperture Wheels, a simplified cloth interior with manual seat adjustments, passive dampers, and a fixed closed roof. The new model has a top speed of 201...

10 October 2025

Tesla has officially launched more affordable versions of its two most popular electric vehicles - the Model Y SUV and the Model 3 sedan - marking a strategic shift aimed at reviving sales and expanding its customer base. These new "Standard" editions are priced at $39,990 for the Model Y and $36,990 for the Model 3, positioning them as the lowest-cost options currently available in Tesla's lineup. While the pricing...

8 October 2025

Electric vehicle (EV) sales in the U.S. are booming - and Tesla and General Motors (GM) are at the front of the pack. Why the sudden surge? Many buyers were racing to take advantage of federal tax credits worth up to $7,500 before they expired in September, thanks to the Trump administration's "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." Tesla still holds the largest slice of the EV pie, delivering over 497,000 vehicles in Q3...

5 October 2025

Tesla Model Y Performance AWD was finally announced for the U.S. market after its European launch more than a month ago. The vehicle is priced at USD 57490. The EPA-estimated range is 306 mi, which equals 492.46 km. The model accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds. The top speed is 155 mph (250 km/h). Of course, for the North American market, the Model Y Performance will use a NACS charger with 11 kW AC and 250...

2 October 2025

Tesla Model Y Performance AWD was announced for the European market with first deliveries scheduled for September. On the German Tesla website, the vehicle is priced at EUR 61990. This model is underpinned by the Tesla Performance 4DU (drive unit), which also powers the 2024 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD. While the electric motor combo is one and the same, Tesla lists 368 kW (500 hp) for the M3P, which is a bit less...

30 August 2025

Tesla Model Y L also listed as Tesla Model YL has been launched in China. The vehicle's price starts at CNY 339,000, which is roughly USD 47,180. The first units will be delivered to customers in China next month. Here are the complete Tesla Model Y L specifications for China. More details will be added when they are available. The Tesla Model Y L is longer and has a longer wheelbase compared to the Model Y LR AWD...

19 August 2025

Tesla China has listed the facelifted Model Y with code name Juniper and official name "Model Y Launch Series" on its website. There are two variants available and the first units are scheduled for March delivery. The updated Model Y delivers a longer range, improved performance, and some changes in design details. Its starting price is 5% higher on average. The first variant is Tesla Model Y RWD priced at CNY...

10 January 2025