Panasonic Delays Kansas EV Battery Plant Ramp-Up Amid Tesla Sales Slump

Panasonic Holdings has delayed plans to bring its $4 billion U.S. electric vehicle (EV) battery plant in Kansas to full capacity by March 2027, according to a report by the Nikkei. The decision comes as its key customer, Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA), faces declining EV sales and mounting industry challenges.

The state-of-the-art facility, which aims to produce 30 gigawatt-hours of battery capacity annually, now has no confirmed target date for reaching full production, the Nikkei added. Panasonic (OTC: PCRFY) has not yet issued a public statement on the postponement.

The Kansas plant is Panasonic’s second major U.S. battery factory, following its Nevada Gigafactory partnership with Tesla. Although mass production is still set to begin soon, the timeline for full-scale operations is now uncertain due to weakening EV demand.

Tesla, once the front-runner in the global EV market, has recently struggled with several headwinds, including the expiration of U.S. EV tax credits, a stagnating product lineup, and growing competition. Additionally, CEO Elon Musk’s ongoing disputes with U.S. President Donald Trump have added to investor concerns.

This delay could impact Panasonic’s ambitions to expand its EV battery footprint in the U.S., especially as other competitors aggressively scale up production to meet growing electrification goals.

As global EV adoption faces short-term challenges, Panasonic’s cautious approach underscores the volatile dynamics of the industry. The shift reflects both the uncertain pace of EV demand recovery and Tesla’s evolving position within the market.

With the EV sector under pressure, manufacturers and suppliers like Panasonic are recalibrating strategies amid changing U.S. regulatory landscapes and shifting consumer sentiment.