Panasonic Energy has gained the required approval to build an electric vehicle battery manufacturing facility in Kansas.
Expected to break ground in the northeastern city of De Soto, the proposed plant will produce and supply lithium-ion batteries for use in EVs, while also creating thousands of new jobs and resulting in an estimated $4 billion investment in the state.
"As the largest private investment in Kansas history and one of the largest EV battery manufacturing plants of its kind in the country, this project will be transformative for our state's economy, providing in total 8,000 high-quality jobs that will help more Kansans create better lives for themselves and their children," Kansas Governor Laura Kelly said in a statement.
The announcement comes five years after Panasonic Energy parent Panasonic Group began production of lithium-ion batteries in Sparks, Nev.—now one of the world's largest lithium-ion battery factories. Operations will continue in Nevada, while the new Kansas facility further supports Panasonic's commitment to advancing the US EV industry.
"With the increased electrification of the automotive market, expanding battery production in the US is critical to help meet demand," said Kazuo Tadanobu, President, CEO of Panasonic Energy Co., Ltd. "Given our leading technology and depth of experience, we aim to continue driving growth of the lithium-ion battery industry and accelerating towards a net-zero emissions future.”
The state of Kansas approved Panasonic's application to build the new factory as part of an Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion (APEX) state incentive. The incentive program was established to attract investment in the state and is available to qualified companies within specific industry sectors that agree to invest at least $1 billion. Now that approval has been granted, the project proposal will go to Panasonic Energy's board of directors for approval.