Panasonic CFO said Tesla asked to increase the supply of 2170 batteries and accelerate the development of 4680 batteries

According to foreign media reports, Panasonic CFO Hirokazu Umeda revealed at a briefing meeting on Wednesday local time that Tesla has asked them to increase the supply of 2170 batteries and accelerate the development of 4680 batteries.

Umeda Hirokata also revealed at the briefing that they received a lot of requests,They also see continued strong demand for 2170 batteries from Tesla.

Panasonic is Tesla’s long-term battery supplier. The batteries needed for the Tesla Model S and Model X are produced by Panasonic at its factory in Japan. Tesla’s Fremont, California factory produces the batteries needed for the Model 3. Made at Panasonic’s Gigafactory in Nevada.

The 4680 battery was introduced by Tesla at its “Battery Day” event on September 22, 2020,The volume is larger than the 1865 battery and 2170 battery, and the energy density is also higher. The energy density is increased by 500%, the output power can be increased by 600%, the cruising range can be increased by 16%, and the cost can be reduced by 14%.. Using this type of battery will help Tesla reduce costs and increase the range of electric vehicles.

Tesla’s new 4680 battery in 2020, they have already started production. Foreign media reported in February this year that Tesla has produced the Model Y equipped with 4680 cells and structured battery packs in the Texas Gigafactory. Musk has also previously revealed that the electric cars produced by the Berlin Gigafactory will use 4680 batteries.

In addition to Tesla’s own production, Panasonic, which is Tesla’s long-term battery supplier, is also developing this type of battery. Shortly after Tesla launched the 4680 battery, it was reported that Panasonic had begun to understand the relevant battery technology and was building a 4680 battery prototype production line.

Panasonic also said on its official website in March that its energy company would build a new production facility at its Wakayama factory in western Japan for the production of 4680 batteries. According to the plan, Panasonic’s increased production lines at the Wakayama plant will complete production verification and achieve mass production in the fiscal year ending in March 2024, which is Panasonic’s fiscal year 2024.

In the latest report, foreign media also mentioned that Panasonic will start producing 4680 batteries in 2023 and mass production by March 2024.