Mazda, Panasonic to discuss ‘medium- to long-term partnerships’ for EV batteries

Mazda and Panasonic have agreed to enter discussions on establishing a medium- to long-term partnership to meet the growing demand for electric vehicles (EV) and automotive batteries.

The discussion — should it go forward — will see Panasonic supply Mazda with automotive cylindrical lithium-ion batteries manufactured at Panasonic Energy’s plants in Japan and North America. These batteries will be used on EVs to be launched in the latter part of the decade.

“As part of our electrification initiatives, Mazda is working with its partners in three phases to flexibly respond to changes in regulatory trends, consumer needs, and other areas. We are delighted to collaborate with Panasonic Energy, which has been a pioneer in automotive lithium-ion batteries, developing high-quality products. We will keep contributing to curbing global warming through various initiatives including our electrification strategy,” Mazda Director and Senior Managing Executive Officer Masahiro Moro was quoted saying.

The likelihood of this discussion pushing forward appears to be high as both Mazda and Panasonic have worked together with the former utilizing batteries of the latter for the Demio EV.

“As the automotive industry rapidly advances electrification and is leading in this technology, collaboration with Mazda will be a major step toward the achievement of our mission of realizing a society in which the pursuit of happiness and a sustainable environment are harmonized. With our superior technology and extensive experience, we will drive growth of the lithium-ion battery industry and further accelerate our efforts to achieve zero emissions,” commented Panasonic Energy President and Chief Executive Officer Kazuo Tadanobu.

Photos from Mazda

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