Mazda has announced that it will build a new module pack plant for automotive cylindrical lithium-ion battery cells in Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.
At its new plant, the OEM will produce modules and packs of automotive cylindrical lithium-ion battery cells procured from Panasonic Energy. The completed battery packs will then be installed in Mazda’s first battery EV that will use a dedicated EV platform and be manufactured at the automaker’s vehicle plant in Japan at 10 GWh.
The news comes as Mazda prepares for electrification technologies and works towards achieving its 2030 Management Policy, which aims to provide a variety of technological options to meet customer needs and regulatory changes in order to contribute to solving the social issue of curbing global warming.
To achieve this goal, in the field of batteries, the automaker recently signed an agreement with Panasonic Energy in May 2023 to procure cylindrical lithium-ion batteries for automotive use, and in September 2024, the plan to expand battery production and technology development through this collaboration was certified by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) as a plan to ensure stable supply of storage batteries.
Based on its plan, Mazda will look to provide its customers with unique BEVs that offer a high level of design, convenience and driving range by using the battery module packs produced at the new plant. Mazda more broadly envisions the plant contributing to local employment and economic development efforts.
