Panasonic Expands Auto Business with Battery Venture and Laser Welding Technology

As part of its goal to grow its automotive business, Japan’s Panasonic Corp. has announced two more initiatives: a lithium-ion battery joint venture in China and a new laser welding molding compound.

The company's 50:50 joint venture (Panasonic Automotive Energy Dalian Co.) with Dalian Levear Electric Co. will produce lithium-ion batteries for hybrid and all-electric vehicles. Production is due to start early next year for both domestic and export markets.

Separately, Panasonic says its new polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) compound for laser welding operations has superior strength and water resistance and the highest laser transmittance (72%) in the industry. This will allow PBT-based laser welding to be used more effectively in the production of automotive switches and sensors, the company says. It plans to start mass-production of the new PBT compounds next month.

Panasonic previously has said it is targeting sales of 2.1 trillion yen ($18.5 billion) for its automotive business for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019. This would be a 62% increase over the most recent fiscal year. The 2019 total would be split between comfort, infotainment and cockpit systems ($8.3 billion); safety technology ($4.18 billion); and batteries and other green technologies ($6.23 billion).