Panasonic postpones start: Tesla batteries with new cells later

Japanese manufacturer Panasonic is unable to meet its schedule to start production of a new generation of battery cells for use in Tesla electric cars. The production of the “4680 cells” is now scheduled to take place later, with Panasonic still wanting to improve performance.

According to a news agency report Reuters Panasonic has announced a postponement of the start of production for the new type 4680 battery cells. Production was originally supposed to start in March 2024, but apparently nothing will come of it now.

Panasonic is planning improvements, which are open

Instead, Panasonic intends to start production of the new cells between April and September 2024 – i.e. in the first half of its next fiscal year, which ends in March 2025. Apparently, Panasonic is not yet satisfied with the performance of the new battery cells. The performance should be increased again before the start of production, it said in the course of the announcement of Panasonic’s latest business figures. So far, it is completely unclear what measures are to be taken and why Panasonic considers the changes to be necessary at all. The company had actually declared the new 4680 cells to be fully developed last year and stated at the time that they would increase the range of Tesla vehicles by more than 15 percent. It was not communicated whether this goal was missed or whether Panasonic wants to provide an even greater boost.

Panasonic is one of Tesla’s most important partners when it comes to the battery packs in its vehicles. Although Tesla also produces batteries itself, the company cannot create sufficient capacity without external partners. The 4680 cells have so far been used in the basic version of the Tesla Model Y and will later also end up in the Tesla Cybertruck, whose mass production is scheduled to start next year.

See also:

Electric cars, battery, tesla, electromobility, electric car, Tesla Motors, e-car, battery, panasonic, cell, panasonic 4680, battery cell
Wall Street Journal