Kansas Lands $4B, 4,000-Job Panasonic Energy Electric Vehicle Battery Plant
~~Governor Laura Kelly Efficiently Wins Biggest Economic Advancement Job in Condition Record~~
TOPEKA – Today, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly declared that Panasonic Electricity Co., Ltd., strategies to develop one particular of the greatest electric powered car (EV) battery production amenities of its type in the United States in Kansas. Pending approval by Panasonic Holdings Company Board of Directors, the firm has determined a web site in De Soto for the probable challenge.
The planned task is envisioned to generate up to 4,000 new work and outcome in an financial investment of up to $4 billion, which signifies the premier financial enhancement challenge in Kansas record. The development will have ripple effects all through the regional and point out financial state, supporting an estimated 4,000 further positions produced by suppliers and group businesses and 16,500 construction positions as cited in an unbiased Wichita Condition University economic effects examine.
“As the major personal financial investment in Kansas heritage and a person of the major EV battery production plants of its type in the nation, this challenge will be transformative for our state’s economy, offering in full 8,000 substantial-excellent work opportunities that will assist additional Kansans create superior lives for them selves and their young children,” stated Kansas Governor Laura Kelly. “Winning this project exhibits that Kansas has what it can take to compete on a world scale — and that our pro-enterprise climate is driving the technological innovation required to realize a extra affluent and sustainable long term.”
This planned state-of-the-art facility will develop and offer lithium-ion batteries and accelerate the future of electrical car or truck innovation on a worldwide scale. Panasonic Energy’s present-day U.S. battery manufacturing procedure has shipped extra than 6 billion EV battery cells. Panasonic Electrical power programs to develop its production of EV batteries as the automotive market shifts to far more sustainable electric technologies. The proposed development would improve the regional financial state, generating prospects for suppliers and group businesses.
“With the amplified electrification of the automotive market, increasing battery creation in the U.S. is significant to assistance meet up with demand from customers,” said Kazuo Tadanobu, President, CEO of Panasonic Energy. “Given our primary engineering and depth of experience, we aim to continue driving growth of the lithium-ion battery marketplace and accelerating towards a net-zero emissions long term.”
Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland mentioned levels of competition for this milestone venture was robust and required a coordinated effort from the point out. A vital element of that undertaking was the enactment of the bipartisan Attracting Impressive Economic Enlargement (APEX) Act earlier this yr.
“Once Governor Kelly signed APEX into law,” Toland explained, “the point out gained the necessary financial growth device to pursue megaprojects that could rework the Kansas overall economy. Panasonic recognized Kansas as not just a contender, but as the suitable associate for this groundbreaking undertaking.”
Panasonic Electrical power picked Kansas due to its organization-helpful local climate, sturdy expertise pool and workforce skillset, assistance of technological know-how innovation, sturdy transportation infrastructure, and central locale. This builds on Kansas City’s legacy production and automotive marketplace strengths.
“With this important growth, Kansas is currently being regarded all over the entire world for our talented workforce, revolutionary surroundings, and top quality of existence,” reported U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (Kan.). “Panasonic will convey 1000’s of very good-having to pay, substantial-quality positions to our point out which will be a large financial gain for community firms and our communities for decades to occur. With the target of making Kansas a desired destination for market, defense, education and learning, science, engineering, engineering, and innovation, we will continue to keep our pupils, their understanding and intellect in Kansas.”
Kansas has an proven battery production sector with 7 establishments utilizing approximately 1,300 folks. The state was rated next in the country for employment and wage concentration in the sector in 2021. With the chance to perhaps include an extra 4,000 positions, this deal will make Kansas an business leader at a time when the sector is predicted to mature at an annualized amount of 2.4 percent.
“Kansas is proving by itself to be an beautiful put wherever business people can unleash innovation and make positions,” claimed Senator Ty Masterson, President of the Kansas Senate. “The Panasonic announcement displays that attraction is global.”
“When the Kansas Legislature passed the APEX legislation, this was the sort of megaproject we had in intellect,” stated Agent Ron Ryckman, Speaker of the Kansas Residence of Associates.
The proposed Panasonic task is the most current economic development earn not long ago introduced by the point out:
- Very last thirty day period, Governor Kelly said the condition surpassed $9 billion new, personal-sector investments because January 2019 resulting in much more than 43,500 positions being produced or retained.
- Also in June, Kansas was awarded Region Advancement Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel Award for the 2nd 12 months in a row. The back-to-back again wins are unparalleled in state background.
- In March, Kansas received the Governor’s Cup from Website Variety Magazine for getting the country’s most economic development investment decision for every capita.
“On behalf of the City Council and the local community, I am thrilled to welcome Panasonic Electrical power to De Soto. The scale of Panasonic Energy’s investment decision in our local community will usher in unparalleled generational economic prosperity for the point out and location,” explained De Soto Mayor Rick Walker. “We are honored to be section of it.”
The Kansas Town location is the third swiftest-rising tech sector in the U.S. and is a nucleus of engineering, technologies, and automotive production experience. With a potent expertise pipeline and slicing-edge teaching packages, the Kansas City industry employs practically 21,000 employees who add to the $19 billion KC transportation production market.
“Panasonic Electrical power produced the ideal alternative to decide on the Kansas City area because of to our market’s strengths in EV and tech innovation,” reported Tim Cowden, President and CEO of the Kansas Metropolis Location Enhancement Council. “This announcement, together with FIFA’s variety of KC as 2026 World Cup host metropolis, our new single-terminal airport coming on line and worldwide tech businesses investing in the current market, reinforces the transformational achievements our region is getting on a worldwide scale.”
“The electric powered car business is expected to increase 8 situations its sizing in considerably less than 10 several years, which is an amazing possibility for states, communities and electricity associates to aid leading, impressive engineering providers,” explained David Campbell, President and CEO of Evergy. On behalf of our region’s company neighborhood, we are incredibly enthusiastic to welcome Panasonic Electricity to Kansas and the Kansas Town Location, and we search ahead to supporting your long-phrase achievements.”
The pursuing corporations supported the recruitment of Panasonic Power to Kansas: Kansas Department of Commerce Kansas Section of Transportation Kansas Office of Well being and Ecosystem Kansas Division of Small children and Families the Honorable Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Ambassador to Japan the U.S. Embassy to Tokyo Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Belief Fund Town of De Soto De Soto Economic Enhancement Council Evergy Sunflower Advancement Group KC SmartPort Johnson County Local community University Kansas City, Kansas Local community Higher education Peaslee Tech University of Kansas Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and Kansas Metropolis Space Enhancement Council.
To study additional about the challenge, its economic effects, and incentives bundle, go through a one particular-pager here.
About Panasonic Vitality Co., Ltd.
Panasonic Electrical power Co., Ltd., established in April 2022 as aspect of the Panasonic Group’s change to an running enterprise procedure, delivers ground breaking battery technological innovation-primarily based items and options globally. By way of its automotive lithium-ion batteries, storage battery techniques and dry batteries, the enterprise provides secure, responsible, and easy electrical power to a broad array of business places, from mobility and social infrastructure to health-related and shopper items. Panasonic Energy is dedicated to contributing to a culture that realizes contentment and environmental sustainability, and via its business enterprise pursuits the Firm aims to address societal issues though using the direct on environmental initiatives. For a lot more facts, be sure to stop by panasonic.com/world wide/electrical power.
About Kansas Office of Commerce
As the state’s guide economic growth agency, the Kansas Section of Commerce strives to empower people today, enterprises and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by building relationships with corporations, web-site spot consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the country and environment. Our potent partnerships permit us to assist make an environment for present Kansas corporations to mature and foster an progressive, competitive landscape for new corporations. Via Commerce’s job successes, Kansas was awarded Spot Improvement Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021 and 2022, and was awarded the 2021 Governor’s Cup by Web site Assortment Magazine. | KansasCommerce.gov
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