Construction of Panasonic Energy’s new state-of-the-art battery manufacturing facility in De Soto, Kansas, continues to move at a rapid clip, and each week brings exciting new milestones as we near our scheduled opening in early 2025. In late June, we welcomed more than 30 reporters and state legislators for a first-hand look at the progress being made on the 4.7 million-square-foot facility, and to learn more about the plant’s innovative design and its positive impact on local and state economies—both today and in the very near future.
Guests included reporters from local, regional, and Japanese media outlets, along with some of the state lawmakers who continue to champion the project’s role in putting Kansas squarely on the map of the domestic electric vehicle industry. Attendees learned about recent construction, hiring, and operational updates from Allan Swan, President, Panasonic Energy of North America; Innocent Chikunya, VP of Operations; and Kristen Walters, VP of Human Resources; and Jeff van Heel, construction executive.
Following these presentations, executives fielded questions on a variety of related topics before leading the group on a behind-the-scenes guided tour of the project site. Attendees had the opportunity to get a firsthand look at the impressive progress currently underway and the remarkable size and scale of the new facility.
Visiting journalists shared what they learned about the new plant through multiple print and broadcast reports detailing various facets of the project, including its current and projected benefits to the greater Kansas City region.
Panasonic Energy’s top executive declared Thursday that its new 4.7 million-square-foot plant now under construction in De Soto ‘will be the largest battery manufacturing plant in the world.’
Add that to the fact that the value of electricity generated by Kansas wind turbines rivals if not exceeds that of its wheat crop and you will understand why some are beginning to see the state as America’s emerging Saudi Arabia of clean energy.
The facility, which will open in the first quarter of 2025, is gargantuan. It would fill the sprawling Kansas Speedway and swallow the Empire State Building and Statue of Liberty.”
Martin Rosenberg
Flatland (Kansas City PBS)
Eventually, about 4,000 people will work at the facility. [Kristen] Walters said about 80 percent of them will be at the production level, with wages for entry-level positions likely to start in the $20 to $29 per hour range.”
Roxie Hammill
Johnson County Post
De Soto is already seeing an economic boost thanks to the plant construction and road work.
Mayor Walker said the over 2,000 workers in the area each day are spending their dollars at the local businesses nearby … He said they’ve seen a 75% year-to-year increase in sales tax revenue.”
Samantha Boring
KCTV 5 (Local CBS Affiliate)
'Sixty-six batteries a second — that's what we do in Nevada. That's what we will do here, minimum. Sixty-six batteries a second, 5-and-a-half million a day, 2 billion a year,' [Allan] Swan said.”
Sydnie Savage
Kansas City Business Journal
About 180 workers have been hired in Kansas so far and Panasonic Energy of North America VP of Human Resources Kristen Walters says they plan to have roughly 500 people hired and trained by the end of the year.”
Kevin Barry
FOX4 News
