Panasonic Energy Opens Osaka Battery Hub to Double Development Efficiency
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Panasonic Energy opened a research hub in Kadoma near Osaka to double battery development efficiency by March 2031. The site brings material design, cell engineering and prototyping under one roof.
Around 500 staff will work at the facility, named Energy Innovation Square, alongside 300 manufacturing engineers at the nearby Suminoe site. Together, the 800-person Osaka cluster represents one of Japan’s largest battery research networks.
Consolidating cell design in Kadoma
The facility integrates design and testing operations that were previously dispersed across separate locations. Panasonic Energy expects this centralisation to cut development times and associated transit requirements by more than 15 per cent.
Engineers at the Kadoma hub will use a digital platform that combines computer simulations with physical test data. Continuous monitoring and statistical analysis are designed to refine digital modelling, allowing faster handoffs from initial cell prototypes to commercial assembly lines.
Deploying Osaka technology to US plants
Process improvements developed in Osaka will feed directly into the company’s manufacturing footprint. That network includes domestic Japanese plants alongside high-volume battery facilities in Nevada and Kansas.
For supply chains, the consolidation tightens the link between Japanese material engineering and North American vehicle assembly. Automakers buying from Panasonic’s US factories require cells with higher energy density and extended operating lifespans to compete against cheaper lithium iron phosphate chemistry.
Beyond automotive cells, Panasonic is targeting server farms. Expanding artificial intelligence infrastructure requires high-performance backup power systems, giving battery suppliers an alternative revenue stream outside passenger vehicles.
Defending global battery market share
Panasonic faces sustained pressure from Chinese battery makers that dominate global electric vehicle supply chains. Data from SNE Research shows Panasonic held 3.7 per cent of the global electric vehicle battery cell market in 2025.
Market leader CATL held 39.2 per cent and BYD took 16.4 per cent over the same period. Panasonic ranked behind LG Energy Solution, CALB, Gotion High-Tech and SK On, reflecting the rapid growth of Chinese manufacturing capacity across Asia and Europe.
Energy Innovation Square will serve as a core hub for Panasonic Energy’s battery development, strengthening collaboration from next-generation product development through mass production and enhancing our global competitiveness.
The Osaka site is now operational, with the company tracking productivity metrics against its FY2024 baseline as it works toward the FY2031 doubling target.