Kansas Lands $4B, 4,000-Career Panasonic Energy Electric Vehicle Battery Plant

~~Governor Laura Kelly Properly Wins Most significant Financial Enhancement Project in Condition Record~~

TOPEKA – Today, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced that Panasonic Energy Co., Ltd., strategies to build a person of the largest electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing amenities of its kind in the United States in Kansas. Pending acceptance by Panasonic Holdings Company Board of Directors, the corporation has determined a web site in De Soto for the potential project.

The planned project is envisioned to generate up to 4,000 new work and final result in an financial investment of up to $4 billion, which represents the major economic enhancement undertaking in Kansas heritage. The development will have ripple results all over the regional and condition overall economy, supporting an estimated 4,000 further work opportunities developed by suppliers and neighborhood businesses and 16,500 design jobs as cited in an unbiased Wichita Point out University financial influence review.

“As the major non-public investment decision in Kansas historical past and one particular of the greatest EV battery production crops of its kind in the state, this challenge will be transformative for our state’s economic system, supplying in whole 8,000 higher-excellent work opportunities that will help additional Kansans generate greater lives for on their own and their kids,” reported Kansas Governor Laura Kelly. “Winning this challenge reveals that Kansas has what it takes to contend on a worldwide scale — and that our pro-organization local climate is driving the technological innovation needed to realize a far more prosperous and sustainable future.”

This prepared condition-of-the-art facility will generate and source lithium-ion batteries and speed up the potential of electrical motor vehicle innovation on a world scale. Panasonic Energy’s recent U.S. battery manufacturing operation has transported far more than 6 billion EV battery cells. Panasonic Electrical power ideas to grow its production of EV batteries as the automotive field shifts to extra sustainable electrical systems. The proposed improvement would boost the regional economic climate, developing alternatives for suppliers and local community corporations.

“With the greater electrification of the automotive market, increasing battery output in the U.S. is significant to help meet need,” stated Kazuo Tadanobu, President, CEO of Panasonic Vitality. “Given our top technological innovation and depth of practical experience, we intention to keep on driving growth of the lithium-ion battery marketplace and accelerating in the direction of a internet-zero emissions potential.”

Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland famous competition for this milestone undertaking was powerful and needed a coordinated exertion from the condition. A crucial element of that endeavor was the enactment of the bipartisan Attracting Powerful Economic Growth (APEX) Act earlier this 12 months.

“Once Governor Kelly signed APEX into legislation,” Toland explained, “the state gained the required financial progress resource to pursue megaprojects that could renovate the Kansas financial system. Panasonic acknowledged Kansas as not just a contender, but as the best spouse for this groundbreaking venture.”

Panasonic Power chosen Kansas owing to its organization-friendly climate, strong talent pool and workforce skillset, aid of technological innovation innovation, robust transportation infrastructure, and central area. This builds on Kansas City’s legacy producing and automotive industry strengths.

“With this big development, Kansas is currently being identified all over the globe for our proficient workforce, progressive surroundings, and good quality of everyday living,” reported U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (Kan.). “Panasonic will bring hundreds of very good-shelling out, higher-high-quality work to our condition which will be a huge financial advantage for neighborhood organizations and our communities for decades to occur. With the intention of earning Kansas a spot for field, defense, schooling, science, engineering, engineering, and innovation, we will hold our college students, their understanding and intellect in Kansas.”

Kansas has an proven battery manufacturing sector with 7 institutions employing somewhere around 1,300 people. The point out was ranked second in the nation for work and wage concentration in the sector in 2021. With the chance to probably include an added 4,000 employment, this deal will make Kansas an market leader at a time when the sector is predicted to improve at an annualized amount of 2.4 per cent.

“Kansas is proving alone to be an eye-catching position exactly where business owners can unleash innovation and develop work,” mentioned Senator Ty Masterson, President of the Kansas Senate. “The Panasonic announcement shows that attraction is international.”

“When the Kansas Legislature passed the APEX laws, this was the form of megaproject we experienced in intellect,” said Consultant Ron Ryckman, Speaker of the Kansas Residence of Representatives.

The proposed Panasonic job is the newest financial development gain a short while ago announced by the condition:

• Very last month, Governor Kelly reported the state surpassed $9 billion new, personal-sector investments considering that January 2019 ensuing in more than 43,500 work opportunities being created or retained.
• Also in June, Kansas was awarded Spot Advancement Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel Award for the second 12 months in a row. The again-to-again wins are unparalleled in condition historical past.
• In March, Kansas received the Governor’s Cup from Website Selection Journal for acquiring the country’s most financial enhancement expenditure for each capita.

“On behalf of the Metropolis Council and the community, I am thrilled to welcome Panasonic Power to De Soto. The scale of Panasonic Energy’s investment in our group will usher in unparalleled generational economic prosperity for the state and region,” mentioned De Soto Mayor Rick Walker. “We are honored to be aspect of it.”

The Kansas City location is the third speediest-expanding tech market place in the U.S. and is a nucleus of engineering, know-how, and automotive production skills. With a potent talent pipeline and reducing-edge instruction courses, the Kansas Metropolis industry employs virtually 21,000 workers who add to the $19 billion KC transportation production field.

“Panasonic Electricity built the appropriate alternative to pick the Kansas Metropolis region due to our market’s strengths in EV and tech innovation,” mentioned Tim Cowden, President and CEO of the Kansas Metropolis Area Growth Council. “This announcement, together with FIFA’s choice of KC as 2026 Earth Cup host town, our new single-terminal airport coming on the web and world wide tech organizations investing in the current market, reinforces the transformational achievement our location is owning on a international scale.”

“The electric powered automobile sector is envisioned to mature 8 situations its dimension in significantly less than 10 yrs, which is an unbelievable chance for states, communities and strength companions to assist top, revolutionary technologies providers,” reported David Campbell, President and CEO of Evergy. On behalf of our region’s company neighborhood, we are quite energized to welcome Panasonic Strength to Kansas and the Kansas Town Location, and we look forward to supporting your extended-term accomplishment.”

The subsequent businesses supported the recruitment of Panasonic Power to Kansas: Kansas Division of Commerce Kansas Office of Transportation Kansas Department of Wellness and Ecosystem Kansas Department of Children and People the Honorable Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Ambassador to Japan the U.S. Embassy to Tokyo Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund City of De Soto De Soto Economic Advancement Council Evergy Sunflower Improvement Group KC SmartPort Johnson County Group College or university Kansas Town, Kansas Neighborhood College or university Peaslee Tech University of Kansas Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and Kansas Metropolis Spot Advancement Council.

To study far more about the undertaking, its economic affect, and incentives package, study a a single-pager below.

About Panasonic Electrical power Co., Ltd.

Panasonic Vitality Co., Ltd., established in April 2022 as portion of the Panasonic Group’s swap to an functioning firm process, provides progressive battery technological know-how-primarily based products and solutions and alternatives globally. By its automotive lithium-ion batteries, storage battery systems and dry batteries, the firm brings harmless, trustworthy, and hassle-free ability to a broad variety of business enterprise spots, from mobility and social infrastructure to health care and consumer products. Panasonic Power is committed to contributing to a society that realizes contentment and environmental sustainability, and by means of its small business routines the Company aims to tackle societal issues though taking the direct on environmental initiatives. For far more aspects, you should stop by panasonic.com/world wide/power.

About Kansas Department of Commerce
As the state’s guide financial enhancement agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower persons, organizations and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by establishing associations with businesses, web site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the country and earth. Our robust partnerships let us to enable develop an surroundings for present Kansas enterprises to grow and foster an ground breaking, aggressive landscape for new corporations. By way of Commerce’s challenge successes, Kansas was awarded Space Growth Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021 and 2022, and was awarded the 2021 Governor’s Cup by Web site Selection Magazine. | KansasCommerce.gov

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