Panasonic Energy opens $4B electric vehicle battery manufacturing plant in Kansas
Panasonic Energy has opened an electric vehicle battery manufacturing plant in De Soto, Kansas. The company, which produces lithium-ion EV batteries, invested $4 billion in the project and has already created approximately 1,000 new jobs.
The manufacturing facility is located on 300 acres in De Soto’s Astra Enterprise Park and is designed to operate at high capacity, producing roughly 66 lithium-ion batteries per second. The site infrastructure includes two production wings with four battery lines in each, as well as dedicated areas for shipping, packing, and sub-supply vendors. The facility is expected to significantly boost both the regional and state economies, generating up to $2.5 billion in new annual economic activity, and creating an additional 4,000 supplier and community jobs along with 16,500 construction jobs.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, Kazuo Tadanobu, CEO, Panasonic Energy, said, “The opening of our Kansas factory marks a major milestone in our journey to scale advanced battery production in the United States. This achievement would not have been possible without the strong support of our local partners and the State of Kansas. Together, we are accelerating the shift to electrification, reinforcing regional supply chains, and nurturing the next generation of battery talent. This facility represents not only our commitment to the region but also a foundation for long-term collaboration and innovation in the U.S.”
Governor Laura Kelly, Governor of Kansas, added, “Panasonic’s EV battery plant marks a bright new era in Kansas. The monumental effort that has gone into every aspect of this project has culminated in this historic day as the plant begins mass production of EV batteries. It’s hard to overstate what Panasonic’s investment means to Kansas and the value of the partnership that made it possible.”
Manufacturers investing in Kansas
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Investing in American manufacturing in 2025
This map shows where manufacturers are choosing to invest their resources, whether they are building new production facilities or expanding existing plants.