Mitsubishi Chemical, Zeon to make EV battery materials in North America

Japanese manufacturers to join U.S. supply chain to expand market share

General Motors assembly workers connect a battery pack underneath a Chevrolet Bolt EV at a plant in Michigan. © Reuters

SHOYA OKINAGA and TAKAKO FUJIU, Nikkei staff writers

August 24, 2023 01:24 JST

TOKYO -- Japanese companies are moving to increase battery material production in North America for electric vehicles, hoping to capitalize on the U.S. push to build a local EV supply chain.

Mitsubishi Chemical plans to establish a new production base for anode materials in North America with an annual capacity of 10,000 tonnes, enough material for 100,000 EVs. As of fiscal 2023, the company has a total production capacity of 12,000 tonnes in Japan and China.