Panasonic introduced that it’s delaying quantity manufacturing of the Tesla 4680 battery cell in an effort to introduce “efficiency enchancment measures.”

Again in 2020, Tesla unveiled its 4680 battery cell, a brand new tab-less battery cell in a much bigger format with new chemistry, enabling cheaper and/or longer-range electrical automobiles.

The cells have already made it to the Mannequin Y being produced at Gigafactory Texas. For the primary time, the automaker is utilizing its personal cells to assist its electrical automobile manufacturing. Nonetheless, Tesla goes to wish so many cells that it is usually partnering with present battery suppliers to deploy their very own manufacturing of the brand new 4680 cells.

Panasonic, Tesla’s oldest battery associate, has tentatively introduced that it might be deploying a prototype manufacturing line for the brand new battery cell. Later, Panasonic’s new CEO, Yuki Kusumi, mentioned that it’s ready to make a “massive funding” in producing Tesla’s new battery cell if check manufacturing proves profitable.

In October 2021, the Japanese producer unveiled its personal 4680 cell developed with Tesla. Then, Panasonic greenlit a $700 million funding to provide 4680 cells in Japan, with plans to convey the cell to quantity manufacturing at different areas.

Final 12 months, we reported on Tesla receiving 4680 battery cell samples from Panasonic because it aimed to maneuver to quantity manufacturing in 2023. Panasonic now says that it’s delaying quantity manufacturing of the Tesla 4680 cell to implement enhancements.

The Japanese producer mentioned throughout its earnings outcomes:

Mass manufacturing rescheduled to start throughout 1H FY3/25 to introduce efficiency enchancment measures that may additional improve competitiveness.

That may put quantity manufacturing of the brand new battery cell at Panasonic between April and September 2024.

Within the meantime, Tesla is ramping up its personal manufacturing of the 4680 cells at Gigafactory Texas to assist the manufacturing of the Cybertruck. LG Power additionally introduced plans to provide a brand new battery cell in the identical format and not using a clear timeline.