Mazda Partners with Panasonic Energy to Power Next-Gen EVs
Mazda Motor and Panasonic Energy are exploring the possibility of establishing a long-term partnership to fuel Mazda’s future electric vehicles (EVs). The two companies plan to enter “concrete discussions” for Panasonic to supply Mazda with lithium-ion batteries that will power its next-gen EVs. The collaboration will help Mazda keep up with the fast-growing demand for EVs while keeping an eye on regulatory trends and consumer needs. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at the details of the partnership and what it means for the future of Mazda’s EVs.
Mazda’s electrification initiatives consist of three phases to flexibly respond to changes in regulatory trends, consumer needs, and other areas. As part of their collaboration, Mazda and Panasonic will work together to meet the demand for battery EVs and automotive batteries in a rapidly expanding market. The collaboration will further build upon the relationship that the two companies have established over the years.
In 2012, Mazda used Panasonic batteries to power its Demio EV, which is also known as the Mazda 2 overseas. The car had a driving range of 200 km (124 mi), which was impressive for EVs at the time. With this partnership, Mazda is expected to deploy EVs using Panasonic batteries in the second half of the decade, likely around 2025 to 2027 or later.
Mashiro Moro, who recently took over as CEO of Mazda, states that the partnership with Panasonic is part of their electrification initiatives. The Japanese automaker unveiled a $10.6 billion investment in November to increase EV production through 2030. The collaboration with Panasonic will help Mazda achieve its goal of accelerating EV production and meeting growing consumer demand for electric vehicles.
Panasonic Energy is one of the leading suppliers of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles in the world. Its partnership with Tesla has been instrumental in the success of the EV maker, and the same success could be replicated with Mazda. Panasonic’s extensive manufacturing facilities in Japan and North America will provide Mazda with the necessary production capacity for its future EVs.
Notably, battery technology has become a cornerstone of EV development, with car manufacturers exploring different ways to develop more efficient, less expensive, and safer batteries. Mazda’s partnership with Panasonic Energy means the company can leverage Panasonic’s battery expertise, which could help Mazda develop more advanced and efficient batteries for its future EVs.
Mazda’s partnership with Panasonic Energy is a significant step forward as the automaker looks to accelerate its EV production through 2030. With Panasonic’s battery production expertise and facilities, Mazda can start deploying EVs using Panasonic batteries in the second half of the decade. The collaboration is also essential for Mazda’s electrification initiatives, which consist of carefully planned phases that will help the company keep up with regulatory trends and consumer needs. This partnership is undoubtedly good news for EV enthusiasts and those who are excited about more environmentally friendly cars on the road.
