Panasonic officially opened the country’s largest electric vehicle battery manufacturing plant Tuesday in De Soto, Kansas. The company is investing $4 billion in the facility and has already hired about 1,000 employees.
Located in Astra Enterprise Park, the 300-acre plant marks the largest economic development project in both Panasonic and Kansas history. According to a Wichita State University study, the project is expected to generate $2.5 billion in annual economic activity and create up to 4,000 new jobs through suppliers and local businesses, along with 16,500 construction jobs.
The facility features two wings with four battery production lines each, capable of producing about 66 lithium-ion batteries per second. Additional space supports shipping, packing, and partner vendors. The plant opens nearly three years after its initial announcement.