Kansas Lands $4B, 4,000-Job Panasonic Energy Electric Vehicle Battery Plant
~~Governor Laura Kelly Efficiently Wins Greatest Economic Advancement Venture in State Heritage~~
TOPEKA – Nowadays, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly introduced that Panasonic Electrical power Co., Ltd., programs to create 1 of the greatest electric powered car (EV) battery manufacturing facilities of its sort in the United States in Kansas. Pending acceptance by Panasonic Holdings Company Board of Administrators, the firm has determined a website in De Soto for the probable task.
The prepared undertaking is anticipated to create up to 4,000 new careers and outcome in an expense of up to $4 billion, which represents the greatest economic growth task in Kansas historical past. The growth will have ripple effects throughout the regional and state economic system, supporting an approximated 4,000 further careers made by suppliers and community organizations and 16,500 construction work opportunities as cited in an independent Wichita Condition University economic impression examine.
“As the biggest private expenditure in Kansas history and a person of the premier EV battery producing vegetation of its type in the country, this task will be transformative for our state’s financial state, furnishing in whole 8,000 substantial-top quality work that will enable much more Kansans build improved lives for them selves and their children,” mentioned Kansas Governor Laura Kelly. “Winning this task exhibits that Kansas has what it normally takes to contend on a international scale — and that our pro-enterprise weather is driving the technological innovation required to attain a additional prosperous and sustainable long term.”
This planned point out-of-the-art facility will build and offer lithium-ion batteries and speed up the future of electrical vehicle innovation on a global scale. Panasonic Energy’s present-day U.S. battery producing procedure has shipped far more than 6 billion EV battery cells. Panasonic Strength ideas to develop its generation of EV batteries as the automotive field shifts to much more sustainable electrical systems. The proposed growth would boost the regional economic climate, creating chances for suppliers and local community enterprises.
“With the elevated electrification of the automotive marketplace, increasing battery output in the U.S. is essential to help meet up with desire,” said Kazuo Tadanobu, President, CEO of Panasonic Strength. “Given our leading technologies and depth of encounter, we goal to go on driving expansion of the lithium-ion battery industry and accelerating in direction of a net-zero emissions potential.”
Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland observed competitiveness for this milestone undertaking was robust and expected a coordinated exertion from the state. A essential ingredient of that undertaking was the enactment of the bipartisan Attracting Highly effective Financial Enlargement (APEX) Act before this calendar year.
“Once Governor Kelly signed APEX into legislation,” Toland explained, “the point out acquired the necessary financial growth tool to go after megaprojects that could transform the Kansas economic system. Panasonic regarded Kansas as not just a contender, but as the best associate for this innovative challenge.”
Panasonic Energy chosen Kansas owing to its enterprise-helpful local climate, robust expertise pool and workforce skillset, assist of technological innovation innovation, strong transportation infrastructure, and central site. This builds on Kansas City’s legacy production and automotive industry strengths.
“With this important enhancement, Kansas is getting identified all around the world for our talented workforce, ground breaking setting, and high quality of existence,” mentioned U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (Kan.). “Panasonic will carry 1000’s of fantastic-having to pay, significant-quality jobs to our point out which will be a enormous financial gain for regional enterprises and our communities for many years to appear. With the objective of earning Kansas a spot for field, protection, schooling, science, engineering, engineering, and innovation, we will keep our students, their know-how and intellect in Kansas.”
Kansas has an founded battery manufacturing sector with seven establishments utilizing about 1,300 men and women. The point out was ranked second in the country for work and wage focus in the sector in 2021. With the option to probably include an supplemental 4,000 careers, this offer will make Kansas an market chief at a time when the sector is predicted to increase at an annualized charge of 2.4 p.c.
“Kansas is proving by itself to be an desirable position wherever entrepreneurs can unleash innovation and make work opportunities,” claimed Senator Ty Masterson, President of the Kansas Senate. “The Panasonic announcement displays that attraction is international.”
“When the Kansas Legislature passed the APEX laws, this was the type of megaproject we experienced in head,” stated Representative Ron Ryckman, Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives.
The proposed Panasonic task is the most current economic growth win just lately introduced by the state:
- Previous thirty day period, Governor Kelly explained the point out surpassed $9 billion new, non-public-sector investments given that January 2019 ensuing in more than 43,500 careers staying designed or retained.
- Also in June, Kansas was awarded Area Enhancement Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel Award for the 2nd yr in a row. The back again-to-back wins are unparalleled in condition history.
- In March, Kansas received the Governor’s Cup from Web page Variety Journal for acquiring the country’s most economic advancement expenditure per capita.
“On behalf of the Town Council and the community, I am thrilled to welcome Panasonic Electrical power to De Soto. The scale of Panasonic Energy’s financial investment in our community will usher in unprecedented generational financial prosperity for the condition and region,” mentioned De Soto Mayor Rick Walker. “We are honored to be part of it.”
The Kansas Metropolis location is the third swiftest-expanding tech sector in the U.S. and is a nucleus of engineering, technologies, and automotive manufacturing abilities. With a robust talent pipeline and reducing-edge instruction plans, the Kansas City current market employs nearly 21,000 workers who contribute to the $19 billion KC transportation producing field.
“Panasonic Electricity built the suitable decision to choose the Kansas Town location because of to our market’s strengths in EV and tech innovation,” reported Tim Cowden, President and CEO of the Kansas Metropolis Area Improvement Council. “This announcement, together with FIFA’s variety of KC as 2026 Globe Cup host city, our new solitary-terminal airport coming on line and international tech corporations investing in the current market, reinforces the transformational good results our area is acquiring on a world-wide scale.”
“The electrical vehicle field is anticipated to expand 8 moments its dimension in fewer than 10 a long time, which is an unbelievable option for states, communities and electricity associates to aid primary, innovative technological innovation firms,” mentioned David Campbell, President and CEO of Evergy. On behalf of our region’s small business group, we are incredibly psyched to welcome Panasonic Power to Kansas and the Kansas City Area, and we glance ahead to supporting your long-phrase achievement.”
The next corporations supported the recruitment of Panasonic Power to Kansas: Kansas Division of Commerce Kansas Office of Transportation Kansas Office of Well being and Surroundings Kansas Department of Kids and Family members the Honorable Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Ambassador to Japan the U.S. Embassy to Tokyo Kansas Children’s Cupboard and Belief Fund Town of De Soto De Soto Economic Progress Council Evergy Sunflower Progress Team KC SmartPort Johnson County Neighborhood Faculty Kansas Metropolis, Kansas Local community School Peaslee Tech College of Kansas Ewing Marion Kauffman Basis and Kansas City Place Improvement Council.
To study more about the project, its economic affect, and incentives package, study a one particular-pager listed here.
About Panasonic Energy Co., Ltd.
Panasonic Electrical power Co., Ltd., established in April 2022 as element of the Panasonic Group’s switch to an working organization method, offers ground breaking battery technological innovation-based mostly products and solutions and remedies globally. By its automotive lithium-ion batteries, storage battery units and dry batteries, the organization delivers harmless, reliable, and handy power to a broad range of business areas, from mobility and social infrastructure to clinical and customer products. Panasonic Power is dedicated to contributing to a society that realizes pleasure and environmental sustainability, and by its small business things to do the Corporation aims to address societal problems although getting the direct on environmental initiatives. For additional details, you should pay a visit to panasonic.com/international/vitality.
About Kansas Department of Commerce
As the state’s lead financial enhancement company, the Kansas Office of Commerce strives to empower individuals, enterprises and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing interactions with firms, web-site locale consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the country and world. Our solid partnerships enable us to help generate an atmosphere for current Kansas corporations to develop and foster an progressive, competitive landscape for new firms. By means of Commerce’s task successes, Kansas was awarded Place Progress Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021 and 2022, and was awarded the 2021 Governor’s Cup by Site Collection Magazine. | KansasCommerce.gov
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