Panasonic Energy Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of the Panasonic Group, has entered into a multi-year agreement with Zoox, the Amazon-owned autonomous ride-hailing provider, to supply cylindrical 2170 lithium-ion batteries for its robotaxi fleet. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in early 2026, initially from Panasonic Energy’s production site in Japan, with plans to expand output to its Kansas facility.
Zoox, which recently opened a serial production plant for its purpose-built robotaxis in Hayward, California, has already launched a fully driverless ride-hailing service in Las Vegas. The company’s vehicles rely on high-performance battery technology to support range, safety, and operational reliability in urban environments.
Panasonic Energy’s 2170 cells are designed to deliver enhanced energy density and safety features. The company reports having supplied approximately 20 billion lithium-ion cells for electric vehicles worldwide as of September 2025—enough to power around four million EVs—with no battery-related recalls. By providing its latest 2170 format, Panasonic Energy aims to meet the rigorous demands of continuous, high-utilization robotaxi operations.
Market analysts anticipate rapid growth in the U.S. robotaxi sector, estimating a market value of about USD 0.45 billion in 2024 and projecting a compound annual growth rate exceeding 70 percent through 2030. Adoption is concentrated in progressive urban centers such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, Miami, Phoenix, and Las Vegas. Globally, the robotaxi market is expected to surpass USD 40–50 billion by 2030, with North America and the Asia-Pacific region leading deployment.
Panasonic Energy views the partnership with Zoox as an opportunity to expand its presence in the emerging robotaxi market and to support the transition toward safer, more sustainable urban mobility. According to Kazuo Tadanobu, CEO of Panasonic Energy, the collaboration represents a pivotal step toward next-generation mobility innovation. Bruce Baumgartner, Vice President of Supply Chain, Quality & Reliability at Zoox, added that Panasonic Energy’s commitment to quality and innovation aligns closely with Zoox’s mission to redefine city transportation.
Source: Panasonic News
