Panasonic has not confirmed that it has started mass production of 4680 cells at its Wakayama factory. Its latest explicit update, dated February 4, 2026, said production was still due to begin after a strategic customer’s final evaluation. The company has described the cells as a route to lower EV costs, but no specific consumer price reduction is established.
Has Panasonic started mass production of 4680 cells?
Not according to Panasonic’s latest explicit dated status. In its February 4, 2026 FY2026 third-quarter presentation, Panasonic Holdings said production at Wakayama was set to start after final evaluation by a strategic customer. The presentation did not name that customer or confirm that production or customer shipments had begun. Panasonic Holdings’ February 4, 2026 presentation
That update follows an announcement on September 9, 2024, when Panasonic Energy said it had completed preparations for mass production at the Wakayama factory and that production would start after final evaluation. CEO Kazuo Tadanobu said, “I am excited that we are ready to start the mass production of the cutting-edge 4680 cell.” That was a statement of readiness, not confirmation that production had begun. Panasonic Energy’s September 9, 2024 announcement
Panasonic Energy’s FY2025 report later said it was coordinating shipping dates with customers, but the subsequent February 2026 presentation still described the Wakayama start as pending final evaluation. The available updates therefore support readiness and an intended start, not a confirmed start date or completed 4680 shipments. Panasonic Energy FY2025 report
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What is the 4680 cell, and what could change?
“4680” and “2170” are names for cylindrical cell formats: Panasonic’s naming convention uses the first two digits for diameter in millimeters and the second two for height. That makes a 4680 nominally 46 mm by 80 mm, compared with a 2170 at 21 mm by 70 mm. Panasonic Energy FY2025 report
Panasonic says a 4680 cell has five times the capacity of its conventional 2170 cell. This is a cell-capacity comparison, not a claim that a vehicle will travel five times farther or that a battery pack will hold five times as much energy. Panasonic Energy’s September 9, 2024 announcement
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The company’s cost argument is that larger-capacity cells could mean fewer cells for a given pack capacity and a more efficient pack assembly process. Panasonic presents this as a way to help lower EV costs; its published material does not establish a specific reduction in a car’s purchase price or show that a named vehicle has become cheaper because of 4680 cells.
Which Panasonic factory is making which cells?
| Factory | Location and cell format | Published status |
|---|---|---|
| Wakayama | Kinokawa, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan; 4680 cylindrical automotive cells | Panasonic’s February 4, 2026 presentation said production was to start after a strategic customer’s final evaluation; it did not confirm production or shipments. |
| Kansas | De Soto, Kansas, United States; 2170 cylindrical automotive cells | Panasonic said mass production began in July 2025. The company targeted approximately 32 GWh of annual capacity for the factory; that figure is a future target, not reported output. |
Wakayama is also described by Panasonic as a “mother factory” and demonstration hub for 4680 production methods intended for use at other factories. The Kansas update concerns 2170 cells, not 4680 production. Panasonic Energy’s Wakayama announcement Panasonic Corporation of North America’s Kansas announcement
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Does the Tesla connection mean Wakayama’s 4680 cells are for Tesla?
Panasonic is described as a Tesla battery supplier, but the official materials cited here do not identify the strategic customer whose final evaluation is required for Wakayama’s 4680 start. They therefore do not establish that these specific cells are for Tesla. A supplier relationship is not enough to identify the customer for a particular factory’s product or qualification process.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What do Panasonic’s shipment figures show?
Panasonic Energy reported more than 19 billion cumulative automotive battery cells shipped as of March 31, 2025, which it estimated was equivalent to approximately 3.7 million EVs. Those are company-wide cumulative figures for automotive cells, not counts of 4680 cells or evidence that Wakayama shipments had started. Panasonic Energy FY2025 report
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