Mazda to build module pack plant for cylindrical lithium-ion batteries

Mazda says the new plant, located in Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, will produce modules and packs of automotive cylindrical lithium-ion battery cells, which will be sourced from Panasonic Energy. The annual production capacity is planned to be 10 GWh. The completed battery packs will be installed in Mazda’s first battery EV that uses a dedicated EV platform and will be manufactured at the company’s vehicle plant in Japan.

The company says it has been preparing for electrification technologies based on a multi-solution strategy that provides a variety of technological options to meet customer needs, and regulatory changes. Mazda signed an agreement with Panasonic Energy in May 2023 to procure cylindrical lithium-ion batteries for automotive use, and in September 2024, the plan to expand battery production and technology development through this collaboration was certified by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) as a “plan to ensure stable supply of storage batteries.

Mazda started production of its first all-electric vehicle, the MX-30 EV, which uses the company’s e-Skyactiv electric drive technology, in 2020, at Ujina plant No.1 in Hiroshima. The company has since revealed two new EVs, the EZ-6 and the Arata, at last year’s Auto China event. The EZ-6 has been developed by Changan Mazda and will be manufactured by the joint venture between Mazda and Chongqing Changan Automobile Co. It will be available in both BEV and PHEV variants.

The Arata is a crossover SUV concept model with production planned to start by the end of this year.