Group 1 - Panasonic Holdings plans to reduce the cost of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles by approximately 40% by the fiscal year 2035, aiming to enhance cost efficiency across the electric vehicle supply chain [1][3] - The company will focus on optimizing core materials and production processes, with nickel as a key component that accounts for about 40% of the total battery cost. Panasonic aims to reduce nickel usage by over 40% by around 2030 and simplify battery processing to cut costs [1][3] - Panasonic Energy intends to expand production scale and improve factory operational efficiency to leverage economies of scale, targeting a battery cost of less than $60 per kilowatt-hour [1][3] Group 2 - Tesla, as a major customer, plays a crucial role in Panasonic's ability to achieve its cost reduction goals, as the sales performance of Tesla directly impacts battery order volumes and production loads [3] - The average price of battery packs, including those for electric vehicles and energy storage systems, is projected to drop to about one-seventh of 2013 levels by 2024, with electric vehicle battery packs expected to fall below $100 per kilowatt-hour [3] - Currently, Panasonic Energy does not produce lithium iron phosphate batteries due to limitations in capacity and performance, but plans to enhance the competitiveness of its nickel-based batteries to maintain and expand its market share in the electric vehicle battery sector [3]

Group 1 - Panasonic plans to establish a second battery factory in the U.S., facing significant challenges in Kansas due to local work culture and natural disasters [1] - The Kansas factory's production is expected to start as early as July, but this timeline has been affected by multiple delays and uncertainties, including tariffs imposed by the Trump administration [1] - Panasonic is adjusting the installation of production equipment at the Kansas factory, aiming for mass production readiness in the first half of the fiscal year 2026 [1] Group 2 - Due to rising demand for electric vehicles, Panasonic initially planned a third battery production facility in the U.S., but this has been postponed due to issues with charging infrastructure and battery costs [2] - The company announced a significant workforce reduction of 10,000 employees, approximately 4% of its global workforce, indicating a major strategic shift [2] - Panasonic is focusing on restructuring its business, divesting from loss-making segments, and shifting its strategic emphasis towards electric vehicle batteries and artificial intelligence [2]