Panasonic plans data-centre battery cells at its Kansas plant as part of a $2.2 billion push

Panasonic Energy/De Soto, Kansas battery factory

Panasonic said it is in early planning to make battery cells for AI data centres in Kansas, while EV cell output continues. It earmarked $2.2 billion for data-centre battery expansion within $3 billion of investment over fiscal 2027 to 2029, with first data-centre cells expected from mid-2028 to early 2029.

• Plant status: four production lines and about 1,800 employees; second wing due 2027.
• Data-centre sales projected to grow from $2 billion (2026) to $6.2 billion (2029).
• CEO Kazuo Tadanobu called data centres the company's growth driver.