TOKYO, Japan: Panasonic has mentioned that in a bid to enhance efficiency, it should delay the business manufacturing of its 4680 battery cells utilized by Tesla and start manufacturing in the course of the April to September interval in 2024, later than beforehand scheduled.
Panasonic, the Japanese battery provider for Tesla, beforehand deliberate to begin quantity manufacturing between April 2023 to March 2024.
“Mass production have been rescheduled to begin during 1H FY3/25 to introduce performance improvement measures that will further enhance our competitiveness,” Panasonic mentioned in a press release.
Panasonic is operating a pilot 4680 manufacturing line at its Wakayama manufacturing facility in Japan, whereas Tesla is already producing the 4680 battery cells, which had been touted by Tesla CEO Elon Musk as being key to creating cheaper and compelling electrical vehicles.
During a current convention name, Tesla government Drew Baglino mentioned that the corporate plans to steadily improve manufacturing of 4680 battery cells, which it presently makes use of in a base Model Y, forward of the launch of its Cybertruck manufacturing subsequent 12 months.
Tesla, which makes 4680 battery cells at its factories in California and Texas, mentioned they had been producing batteries for greater than 1,000 vehicles per week on the finish of 2022, equal to some 20 p.c of the annual manufacturing capability of its Texas manufacturing facility.
Last month, Tesla’s South Korean provider, LG Energy Solution, mentioned that it deliberate to ascertain a brand new 4680 battery manufacturing line at its home manufacturing facility by the top of this 12 months.