Panasonic Energy will be supplying Mazda with battery cells for assembly of modules produced locally for a new electric vehicle made in Iwakuni City.
Mazda is localising battery supply in readiness for the production of a battery electric vehicle (BEV) that will be made at the Hofu plant in Japan’s Yamaguchi Prefecture, with a production date yet to be announced.
The carmaker is going to assemble battery module packs from cylindrical lithium-ion batteries supplied by Panasonic Energy from its Suminoe and Kaizuka factories in Osaka. Assembly will be at a new 10 GWh plant in Iwakuni City, also in Yamaguchi. That battery assembly plant will begin operations in financial year 2027 and will be staffed by Mazda employees.
“As part of Mazda’s basic approach to supply chains, we have a policy of building a procurement structure for parts/components closer to production bases in order to minimise the impact of changes in the external environment,” said a spokesperson for Mazda.
Mazda signed an agreement with Panasonic Energy in May 2023 to procure cylindrical lithium-ion batteries for automotive use, and in September 2024 the plan to expand battery production and technology development through this collaboration was certified by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) as a “plan to ensure stable supply of storage batteries”. Through this collaboration, Mazda and Panasonic Energy said they are poised to help strengthen cylindrical automotive lithium-ion battery domestic supply chains, while also expanding and enhancing Japan’s manufacturing base. When the agreement between Mazda and Panasonic Energy was announced, the latter’s president and CEO Kazuo Tadanobu said: “Through this collaboration we are poised to drive the expansion of BEV manufacturing and boost the competitiveness of Japan’s battery industry. Our ultimate goal is to foster a sustainable society, and we are dedicated to achieving this mission.”
Mazda said that it is looking at automating some of the battery pack assembly but a final decision on the extent of the automation still had to be made. The carmaker said final decisions on specific logistics processes will be shared once the plans for the plant are finalised, including how the packs are delivered to lineside.
Mazda already makes the MX-30 EV at its plant in Hiroshima and the battery cells for that model are supplied by LG Energy Solution.
Mazda also recently announced that it will be building an electric vehicle for the European market at its joint venture plant with China’s Changan Automobile in Nanjing.
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