Panasonic says Oklahoma no longer candidate for new battery plant (updated)

Panasonic Holdings

20/12/2023 06:35

(Updates throughout with Panasonic Energy comment; changes
media packaging information)
       TOKYO, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Panasonic Energy, a unit of
Panasonic Holdings  6752.T , on Wednesday said Oklahoma was no
longer a candidate for a new electric vehicle battery plant in
the United States.
    The decision by the battery supplier to EV maker Tesla
 TSLA.O  came after the company in April said it was considering
building a plant in Oklahoma, its third in the U.S.
    "After careful deliberations, we have made the decision not
to move forward with developing the site," Panasonic Energy said
in a statement.
    "This decision will not impact our operations in Nevada or
Kansas," according to the statement.
     The company also said it has made "a long-term commitment
to investing in and advancing the EV industry in the U.S." to
deliver the highest-quality batteries.

 (Reporting by Mariko Katsumura and Daniel Leussink; Writing by
Kaori Kaneko; Editing by Christopher Cushing)
 ((Mariko.Katsumura@thomsonreuters.com;))