Panasonic Energy's Wuxi factory commences mass production

A ceremony is held in Xinwu district, Wuxi to celebrate the start of mass production at the lithium primary battery factory of Panasonic Energy (Wuxi) Co Ltd. [Photo/WeChat account: xinwu_wx]

The new lithium primary battery factory of Panasonic Energy (Wuxi) Co Ltd commenced mass production on March 8.

With a total investment of 350 million yuan ($48.72 million), the factory, located in Wuxi's Xinwu district, features two buildings covering approximately 16,000 square meters. Once fully operational, it is expected to produce 240 million batteries annually, generating an output value of about 1 billion yuan. The lithium primary batteries are widely used in smart meters, automotive electronics, internet of things terminals, and other fields.

Zhang Jinwei, head of Xinwu, said that Panasonic was among the first Fortune Global 500 companies to establish a presence in Xinwu district. The new achievement of Panasonic's Wuxi factory signifies the fruitful collaboration between the government and enterprise.

Tetsuro Homma, executive vice-president of Panasonic and regional head for China and North Asia, stated that Panasonic will further leverage its advantageous resources to focus on new product introduction, capacity expansion, R&D enhancement, and green manufacturing.

Panasonic Energy (Wuxi) Co Ltd mainly engages in the production of high-capacity and high-safety lithium batteries and environmentally friendly nickel-hydrogen batteries. It serves as an important new energy production base for Panasonic.

A workshop of the lithium primary battery factory. [Photo/WeChat account: xinwu_wx]

The new energy industry in Xinwu district has developed over the years, attracting many well-known companies such as Panasonic and Murata. Its business covers various segments, including silicon wafers, key components of fuel cells, and power batteries. In 2023, the industry's scale exceeded 100 billion yuan.