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When Will Panasonic Start 4680 Battery Production? Latest Wakayama Update

Panasonic prepared its Wakayama factory for 4680 production, but its February 2026 update still said the start awaited a strategic customer’s final evaluation.
Entry898 Date Time3 min MechanicCarCody Team
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Panasonic has prepared its Wakayama, Japan, factory to make 4680 battery cells, but its latest dated update does not confirm that mass production has begun. In a presentation on February 4, 2026, Panasonic said the start was still pending a strategic customer’s final evaluation. The company has not named that customer in the cited update, so the specific Wakayama cells cannot be identified as Tesla-bound.

Has Panasonic started mass-producing 4680 cells?

Not according to Panasonic’s latest explicit status update available here. The company announced on September 9, 2024, that it had finalized preparations for mass production at its Wakayama Factory and that production would begin after final evaluation. Panasonic Energy CEO Kazuo Tadanobu said, “I am excited that we are ready to start the mass production of the cutting-edge 4680 cell.” Read alongside the company’s qualification, the quote describes readiness, not a confirmed production start. Panasonic’s September 2024 announcement

Panasonic Holdings’ February 4, 2026, FY2026 third-quarter presentation said production at Wakayama was still set to start after final evaluation by a strategic customer. The update does not name that customer or confirm that production or customer shipments had begun. Panasonic Holdings’ February 2026 presentation

Where will Panasonic make its 4680 batteries?

The identified 4680 production base is Panasonic’s Wakayama Factory in Kinokawa, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. Panasonic described the revamped site as a “mother factory” and demonstration hub for manufacturing methods intended for use at other factories. That role makes the site significant beyond its planned output: it is also meant to demonstrate and refine the production process.

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Do not confuse Wakayama’s 4680 plans with Panasonic’s Kansas factory. Panasonic said mass production of cylindrical 2170 cells began there in July 2025. The Kansas plant is not the 4680 production site identified in the company’s announcements. Panasonic North America’s Kansas factory announcement

What is a 4680 battery cell, and what could it change?

“4680” and “2170” describe cylindrical cell formats: Panasonic’s naming convention uses the first two digits for diameter in millimeters and the next two for height. The formats are nominally 46 by 80 millimeters and 21 by 70 millimeters, respectively. Panasonic says one 4680 cell has five times the capacity of one conventional 2170 cell. That is a cell-capacity comparison—not a claim that a vehicle will have five times the range or that a whole battery pack will hold five times as much energy. Panasonic’s format and capacity explanation; Panasonic Energy’s FY2025 report

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Panasonic’s proposed cost pathway is that a pack could use fewer cells for the same capacity and benefit from more efficient pack assembly. Those are the company’s manufacturing and design rationale for potentially lowering EV costs, not proof of a specific reduction in a car’s purchase price. The cited materials do not provide a confirmed consumer price cut attributable to the Wakayama 4680 cells.

What Panasonic’s shipment and factory figures do—and do not—show

Panasonic Energy reported more than 19 billion cumulative automotive battery cells shipped as of March 31, 2025, estimating that these shipments were equivalent to approximately 3.7 million EVs. Those figures cover Panasonic automotive cells overall; they are not 4680 production or shipment totals. Panasonic Energy’s FY2025 report

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For Kansas, Panasonic gave an approximate future annual capacity target of 32 GWh. The factory had begun mass production of 2170 cells, but the target is not a statement of achieved output. It is separate from Wakayama’s 4680 status. Panasonic North America’s Kansas factory announcement

Site or figure Cell format or scope What Panasonic has stated
Wakayama, Japan 4680 Mass-production preparations finalized in September 2024; the February 4, 2026 update said the start awaited a strategic customer’s final evaluation. No start or shipments were confirmed in that update. September 2024 announcement; February 2026 presentation
Kansas, United States 2170 Mass production began in July 2025; approximately 32 GWh is a future annual capacity target, not reported output. Panasonic North America announcement
Panasonic Energy automotive shipments Company-wide automotive cells, not 4680-only More than 19 billion cumulative cells shipped through March 31, 2025; Panasonic estimated equivalence to approximately 3.7 million EVs. FY2025 report
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What this means for Tesla and EV prices

Panasonic is described as a Tesla battery supplier, but the cited Wakayama updates do not identify the strategic customer undergoing 4680 evaluation. They therefore do not establish that the Wakayama cells are for Tesla. Nor do they establish that any particular Tesla or other EV model will become cheaper as a result.

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The practical takeaway is that Panasonic has announced readiness and an intended 4680 production start, while the latest dated status cited here still makes that start contingent on customer evaluation. A lower-cost EV remains a potential outcome of Panasonic’s stated fewer-cells and more-efficient-assembly approach—not a confirmed price change.

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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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