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TOKYO, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Shares of Japan's Panasonic Holdings (6752.T) have rallied about 10% since it announced on Friday a plan to sell a stake in its automotive systems business and the unit's potential listing raised broader restructuring hopes. Over the last decade, Hitachi's shares have more than trebled, when taking into account dividends, compared to a 87% return by Panasonic. Investors reacted positively to the potential sale of the stake in the automotive unit, which makes cockpit and electronics systems. With its plan, Panasonic likely starts a journey to make itself into a company with a higher return on equity, they said. Panasonic's automotive unit is separate from its energy unit that makes batteries for electric vehicles, including those from Tesla (TSLA.O).

Persons: Damian Thong, Thong, Jefferies, Hitachi's, Ulrike Schaede, Daniel Leussink, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Japan's Panasonic Holdings, Apollo Global Management, Panasonic, Hitachi, Macquarie, Investors, University of California San, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Tokyo, Singapore, University of California San Diego

☆ Panasonic plans to sell stake in autos business to Apollo Global funds
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A logo of Panasonic Corp is pictured at the CEATEC JAPAN 2017 (Combined Exhibition of Advanced Technologies) at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan, October 2, 2017. REUTERS/Toru Hanai/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Japan's Panasonic Holdings (6752.T) said on Friday it plans to sell a stake in its automotive systems business to funds managed by U.S. private equity firm Apollo Global Management, and has signed a memorandum of understanding with an Apollo affiliate. Continued investment in the automotive systems business would be necessary to achieve sustained growth for the company amid a rapid shift to electric cars and changes to vehicle architecture, Panasonic said. The automotive unit makes cockpit and electronics systems. It is separate from Panasonic's energy unit that makes batteries for electric vehicles, including those from Tesla (TSLA.O).

Persons: Toru Hanai, Daniel Leussink, David Dolan, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Panasonic Corp, Advanced Technologies, Makuhari, REUTERS, Rights, Japan's Panasonic Holdings, U.S, Apollo Global Management, Apollo, Panasonic, Thomson Locations: JAPAN, Chiba, Japan, Tokyo

☆ China's led the EV race – but it may be running out of charge
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Nathan Rennolds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

AdvertisementAdvertisementThere's been a clear winner in the global EV race so far: China. Ford CEO Jim Farley announcing its Michigan EV battery plant in February. Bill Pugliano/Getty ImagesConcern about using Chinese battery technology reflects wider global concern about China's domination of the EV battery market, with governments starting to block Chinese investment into mines and factories. AdvertisementAdvertisementAustralia is the world's biggest producer of lithium, a key material for EV batteries, and a major producer of other rare earths. AdvertisementAdvertisementChina may have led the world in the EV race – but those days could well be numbered.

Persons: —, Bill Russo, Chrysler's, CATL, Ariel Cohen, there's, Shawn Fain, Ford, Jim Farley, Bill Pugliano, Jim Chalmers, Cohen, Morgan Stanley, Mazzocco, Bernstein, he's, Biden, it's, Ursula von der, Donald Trump Organizations: EV, European Union, Service, Economic, Financial, Ford, Council's Eurasia Center, of Foreign Relations, UAW, Reuters, Michigan EV, Minerals, Publishing, Center for Strategic, International Studies, South, Japan's Panasonic, European, Benz, Bloomberg, White Locations: China, America, Europe, South Korea, Michigan, Australia, India, Nanjing, Washington ,, Hungary

JSW held talks with senior LGES executives in Korea earlier this month, proposing a partnership to manufacture battery cells in India for EVs and energy storage, one of the people with direct knowledge of the discussions said. "Due diligence wise JSW is talking to a lot of people because it needs an ecosystem for an EV. JSW's billionaire chairman Sajjan Jindal has publicly aired his desire to build EVs and its talks to buy a stake in China's MG Motor (600104.SS). Toshiba said it is not able to confirm "at this point" if it is in talks with JSW for a partnership to build battery cells. Tesla is also eyeing India and is in talks with the government to build EVs and batteries there.

Persons: Danish Siddiqui, JSW, LGES, China's CATL, Sajjan Jindal, CATL, Narendra Modi's, JSW's, Ola, Aditi Shah, Neha Arora, Heekyong Yang, Daniel Leussink, Miho Uranaka, Zhang Yan, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, Danish, Korea's LG Energy, Panasonic, Toshiba, JSW's, Tesla, General Motors, China's, HK, Reuters, JSW, Tata Motors, TVS, Thomson Locations: Mumbai, India, DELHI, Korea, Korean, India's, New Delhi, Seoul, Tokyo, Shanghai

"Due diligence wise JSW is talking to a lot of people because it needs an ecosystem for an EV. JSW's billionaire chairman Sajjan Jindal has publicly aired his desire to build EVs and its talks to buy a stake in China's MG Motor (600104.SS). Toshiba said it is not able to confirm "at this point" if it is in talks with JSW for a partnership to build battery cells. All three sources declined to be identified as the talks are still ongoing and a final decision has not been made. Tesla is also eyeing India and is in talks with the government to build EVs and batteries there.

☆ Panasonic Q1 profit rises 42%, in line with market expectations
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

TOKYO, July 31 (Reuters) - Japan's Panasonic Holdings (6752.T) on Monday posted a 42% rise in first-quarter profit to 90.37 billion yen ($636 million), largely matching analysts' estimates. Operating profit for the three months to end-June compared with an average estimate of 91.18 billion yen in a poll of 11 analysts by Refinitiv and a 63.7 billion yen operating profit in the same period a year earlier. ($1 = 142.0400 yen)Reporting by Daniel Leussink; editing by David DolanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Daniel Leussink, David Dolan Organizations: Japan's Panasonic Holdings, Refinitiv, Thomson Locations: TOKYO

☆ Panasonic Q1 profit jumps, maintains FY forecast
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Panasonic, whose energy unit makes batteries for Tesla Inc (TSLA.O), said operating profit came to 90.37 billion yen ($637 million) in the three months to end-June, versus the 91.18 billion yen average forecast in a poll of 11 analysts by Refinitiv. Its battery unit, Panasonic Energy, and Subaru (7270.T) said they have started talks to establish a battery supply partnership for electric vehicles that would supply the Japanese automaker with cylindrical lithium-ion batteries. Panasonic, whose products span consumer electronics and delivery robots to sensing cameras and self-checkout systems, maintained its full-year forecast at 430 billion yen. That compared to a 413.96 billion yen average profit forecast in a poll of 20 analysts by Refinitiv. ($1 = 141.9500 yen)Reporting by Daniel Leussink; Editing by David DolanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Daniel Leussink, David Dolan Organizations: Japan's Panasonic Holdings, Panasonic, Tesla Inc, Refinitiv, Panasonic Energy, Subaru, Reuters, Thomson Locations: TOKYO

☆ Panasonic needs four more EV battery plants, executive says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Miho Uranaka | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The comments by Shoichiro Watanabe of Panasonic Energy are the Tesla (TSLA.O) supplier's first clear indication of the number of additional factories it will need. "We will need to build around another four factories," Watanabe, the company's chief technology officer, said in an interview at its headquarters in Osaka on Friday. He signalled an openness to potential joint ventures for EV battery production, with automaker Mazda Motor (7261.T) among others, citing the changing nature of such projects in which investment is no longer shouldered by battery makers alone. Panasonic will not rule out the possibility of a joint battery venture with Mazda as part of a supply partnership the companies are working out, Watanabe said. They aim to sign off on it this year, and expect to supply batteries after 2025.

Persons: Shoichiro Watanabe, Miho Uranaka, Watanabe, Elon Musk, Miho Uranka, Daniel Leussink, David Dolan Organizations: Panasonic Energy Co, REUTERS, Panasonic, Reuters, Panasonic Energy, EV, Mazda, NORTH AMERICA Panasonic, U.S, Thomson Locations: Moriguchi, Osaka prefecture, Japan, Miho Uranaka OSAKA, United States, Nevada, Kansas, Osaka, North America, Oklahoma

☆ Panasonic, Mazda eye for long-term EV battery supply partnership
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

TOKYO, June 21 (Reuters) - Japan's Panasonic Energy and Mazda Motor (7261.T) on Wednesday announced they will discuss a lithium-ion battery supply partnership for electric vehicles. Under the partnership, Panasonic Energy, a Panasonic Holdings Corp (6752.T) unit, would supply Mazda with automotive cylindrical lithium-ion batteries manufactured in Japan and North America for Mazda's battery EVs scheduled to be launched in the latter half of the 2020s, the companies said in a statement. Reporting by Kantaro Komiya, Editing by Louise HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Kantaro Komiya, Louise Heavens Organizations: Panasonic Energy, Mazda, Wednesday, Panasonic Holdings Corp, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Japan, North America

☆ Panasonic to boost battery output at Tesla's Nevada Gigafactory - Nikkei
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The company's unit, Panasonic Energy, will install a 15th production line at Gigafactory Nevada, the report said. The report comes after Panasonic said last month it plans to build at least two new factories for the production of Tesla 4680 battery cells in North America by 2030. At the time, Panasonic had not disclosed where in North America it would add the production capacity. Tesla recently told Panasonic it would "buy as much as can make", according to an executive at the Japanese manufacturer, the report added. Panasonic is running a pilot 4680 production line at its Wakayama factory in Japan, while Tesla is already producing the 4680 battery cells, which Musk has touted as being key to making cheaper and compelling electric cars.

Persons: Tesla, Musk, Samrhitha, Pooja Desai Organizations: Japan's Panasonic Holdings Corp, Tesla Inc, Nikkei, Panasonic Energy, Panasonic, Tesla, Thomson Locations: Nevada, Gigafactory Nevada, North America, Wakayama, Japan, Bengaluru

☆ Panasonic plans multiple new battery factories in North America by 2030
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKYO, May 18 (Reuters) - Japan's Panasonic Holdings Corp (6752.T) aims to ramp up production of battery cells used in electric vehicles by building at least two new factories in North America, it said on Thursday. Panasonic plans to build at least two new factories for 4680 battery production in North America by 2030, a spokesperson confirmed to Reuters. Panasonic has yet to decide where in North America it will add the production capacity, said the company's Group Chief Executive Officer Yuki Kusumi. Panasonic and trading house Marubeni Corp (8002.T) will build out a delivery network in Japan that will use small electric vans, the Nikkei newspaper said later on Thursday. Panasonic will also set up two other new sites to deepen its battery know-how in Japan over the next two years.

☆ Panasonic plans two or more new battery factories in North America by 2030
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, May 18 (Reuters) - Japan's Panasonic Holdings Corp (6752.T) aims to ramp up its production capacity for 4680 battery cells by 2030 by building two or more new factories in North America, it said on Thursday, as it seeks to supply the growing electric vehicle (EV) market. Panasonic plans to build at least two new factories for 4680 battery production in North America, a spokesperson confirmed to Reuters. Panasonic has yet to decide where in North America it will add the production capacity, said the company's Group Chief Executive Officer Yuki Kusumi. Panasonic is running a pilot 4680 production line at its Wakayama factory in Japan, while Tesla is already producing the 4680 battery cells, which Tesla CEO Elon Musk has touted as being key to making cheaper and compelling electric cars. Panasonic will also set up two other new sites to deepen its battery know-how in Japan over the next two years.

☆ Panasonic sees record profit on robust battery demand, U.S. tax credit
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The net profit outlook would be up 23% from the prior record for net profit of 284.1 billion yen, set in the year ending in March 2019. The company sees operating profit of 430 billion yen for the year through March 2024, versus 288.6 billion yen a year earlier. That beats the 383.96 billion yen average of 20 analyst estimates compiled by Refinitiv. For the fourth quarter of the year ended March 31, Panasonic posted operating profit of 54.4 billion yen. That compared with 83.4 billion yen a year prior and the 59.49 billion yen average of 12 analyst estimates.

☆ Panasonic says it may build EV battery plant in Oklahoma
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, April 16 (Reuters) - Japan's Panasonic Holdings (6752.T), a battery supplier to electric vehicle maker Tesla Inc (TSLA.O), said on Sunday that it is considering building a battery plant in Oklahoma, its third in the United States. Panasonic's decision to consider Oklahoma, which was reported earlier by Kyodo news agency, comes amid surging sales for electric vehicles, and other EV makers besides longtime customer Tesla are looking to the Japanese conglomerate as a possible battery supplier. Panasonic is in talks with other Stellantis (STLAM.MI) and BMW (BMWG.DE) about building a new EV plant in North America, the Wall Street journal reported this month. The Japanese company in July rejected Oklahoma as the site for its second EV battery plant, picking Kansas instead to make batteries for Tesla. State officials there said that investment of up to $4 billion will create up to 4,000 jobs.

☆ Panasonic may build third EV battery plant in Oklahoma -Kyodo
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

TOKYO, April 16 (Reuters) - Japan's Panasonic Holdings (6752.T), a battery supplier to electric vehicle maker Tesla Inc (TSLA.O), is considering building a battery plant in Oklahoma, it third in the United States, Kyodo news service reported on Sunday. Reporting by Tim Kelly; Editing by William MallardOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Exclusive: Tesla taps Asian partners to address 4680 battery concerns
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Details about Tesla's Cybertruck battery strategy, including use of 4680 cells and consideration of other options, have not been reported. The Tesla-designed 4680 cell - so named for its external dimensions (46mm diameter, 80mm length) - is crucial to future production plans. Last year, LG said it planned to open a new 4680 production line at its Ochang plant in Korea in the second half of 2023. Tesla also has been installing first-generation 4680 cells with "wet" cathodes in so-called structural packs in Texas-built Model Ys. Tesla plans to use a cathode with more than 90% nickel in the next generation of 4680 cells, two sources said.

[1/5] Elderly visitors enjoy the sunshine, at a nursing home of Lendlease's Ardor Gardens in Shanghai, China February 27, 2023. Lim says "stigma" around retirement homes in China is quickly disappearing. About 4% of people aged 65 and over in Britain live in retirement homes, according to information service Lottie. Ding Hui, China managing director at Australian real estate firm Lendlease (LLC.AX), expects demand for retirement homes to rise sharply in the next five to 10 years. Government-run nursing homes with basic facilities in Shanghai and Beijing are much cheaper, at about 2,000 yuan ($290) a month.

☆ US unit of Spain's ACS to build EV battery plant for Panasonic in Kansas
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MADRID, March 2 (Reuters) - A joint venture between the U.S. unit of Spanish engineering group ACS (ACS.MC) and Philadelphia-based Yates Construction has won a contract to build an electric vehicle (EV) battery plant in Kansas as part of a $4 billion investment by Japan's Panasonic (6752.T) group, the companies said on Wednesday. The EV battery factory in the city of De Soto is expected to start operating by the end of March 2025 and will reach approximately 30 gigawatts-hour of annual production capacity, according to a statement by ACS' Turner Construction. "The battery manufacturing facility is a critical part of Panasonic's investment in the United States to expand EV battery production capacity," the company said. In addition to the assembly facility, the project will include construction of a central utility plant and support buildings, it added. Reporting by David Latona; Editing by Simon Cameron-MooreOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Panasonic cuts full-year outlook as costly raw materials weigh
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Daniel Leussink | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKYO, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Japan's Panasonic Holdings Corp (6752.T) cut its annual operating profit forecast by 12.5% on Thursday after lower-than-expected third-quarter earnings, hit by headwinds from a slowing global economy and persistently high raw materials prices. The conglomerate slashed its operating profit forecast to 280 billion yen ($2.18 billion) for the financial year to Mar. 31, from 320 billion yen, in part due to a less rosy outlook for its industry segment this quarter. Panasonic's third-quarter result, with its operating profit rising 16% to 84.4 billion yen in the three months ended Dec. 31, fell short of a mean estimate of 95.31 billion yen profit from nine analysts. Most investors were focused on more clarity and details about U.S. Inflation Reduction Act benefits for Panasonic's EV battery cell production, such as the size and sustainability of subsidies, the analysts added.

That would mean running Tesla factories leaner with fewer materials in inventory, cutting shipping and logistics costs and negotiating lower prices for components, he said - putting Tesla's suppliers on notice. "My guess is if the recession is a serious one, and I think it probably will be but I hope it isn't, that would lead to meaningful decrease in almost all of our input costs," Musk said. Tesla's third-quarter profit per car sold was more than seven times higher than Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T), for example. The company's average cost per vehicle, including all categories of its spending, was almost $44,000 in the fourth quarter. I think there's just a vast number of people that want to buy a Tesla but can't afford it," Musk said.

☆ Tesla plans $3.6 bln Nevada expansion to make Semi truck, battery cells
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The cell plant would be able to make enough batteries for 2 million light-duty vehicles annually, including batteries using the 4680-type cell. The 4680 is key to Tesla meeting a goal of halving battery costs and ramping up battery production nearly 100-fold by 2030. Panasonic currently supplies cells to the gigafactory, and Tesla assembles them into battery packs there. Tesla has struggled to ramp up production of the 4680 at its factories in Fremont, California, and Austin, Texas. The EV maker aimed to produce 50,000 Semis in 2024, Musk said on a post-earnings call in October.

☆ China reopening earlier than expected could hit supply chains in the short term, but boost growth in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Jihye Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Photographer: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesMainland China's reopening came sooner than expected for investors, and Goldman Sachs warns it will lead to short-term strains in the workforce and supply chains. Positive outlook for GDP, Chinese yuanDespite shorter-term concerns for China's reopening, economists have a rosy outlook for China's growth in the long run. "Improved growth expectations in 2023 might outweigh unfavorable factors such as deterioration in goods and services trade balances," the Goldman Sachs note said. International travel to resumeThe economists at Goldman Sachs said the latest measures will likely benefit the surrounding region's growth as travel normalizes. Travelers with luggage's inside Terminal 1 at the Hong Kong International Airport on December 20, 2022 in Hong Kong, China.

☆ 7 up-and-coming battery makers vying for the $370 billion electric commercial vehicle business
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( Andrew Moseman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The global electric commercial vehicle market is expected to top $370 billion in annual revenue by 2030. With a flood of new battery-powered autos set to transform the business of building passenger vehicles, it was natural that commercial vehicles would be next. The global electric commercial vehicles market is expected to surpass $370 billion in annual revenue by 2030, according to Guidehouse Insights. It also has its toes deep into electric mobility, building batteries not only for EVs but also electric buses, boats, and trucks. Now, through internal changes and acquisitions, BorgWarner is positioning itself for the electrified future, especially as that future comes to commercial vehicles.

Musk had made the remark in a video call with President Yoon Suk-yeol, adding that the company planned to step up cooperation with South Korea on supply chains, Yoon's office said. As Yoon was aware of Tesla's plans to build a factory in Asia in the future, his office said, Yoon asked Musk to build the factory in South Korea. In response, Musk said he considered South Korea to be one of the top candidates and would make the decision after reviewing investment conditions in other countries, including labour quality, technology level and production infrastructure. "We expect to buy components worth more than $10 billion from South Korean firms in 2023 as we significantly expand supply chain cooperation with South Korean companies," Yoon's office quoted Musk as saying. Yoon said in the discussion he would reform unreasonable regulations that hindered investment by global tech companies, according to Yoon's office.

☆ Panasonic to start building Kansas battery plant next month
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The conglomerate also lowered its full-year operating profit forecast to 320 billion yen ($2.16 billion) from 360 billion yen for the year ending March 31. That compares with a 349.9 billion yen average forecast by 19 analysts. Panasonic posted an 11% drop in second-quarter operating profit, but performed better than analysts' estimates. It reported 86.1 billion yen ($582.54 million) in operating profit for the three months to end-September, versus an average 81.6 billion yen profit estimated by nine analysts, according to Refinitiv data. Panasonic has said that, by 2029, it plans to expand its battery production capacity by three to four times, with most of the increase in North America.

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