Energy & Environment

Panasonic, Tesla to build massive US battery plant

The Japanese electronics company Panasonic is joining electric car maker Tesla Motors Inc. to build a large battery manufacturing plant in the U.S.

The “gigafactory” as Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, calls it, is expected to create 6,500 jobs. The companies announced the deal Thursday, The Associated Press reports, but did not say where the large plant would be built in the U.S.

{mosads}The battery plant will produce cells, modules, and packs for Tesla’s electric cars, brining in 6,500 employees by 2020.

The agreement between the two companies states Tesla will prepare, provide and manage the land and buildings where Panasonic will manufacture and supply the lithium-ion battery cells and invest in equipment, AP reports.