Hyperdrive
Tesla Gets Panasonic's Help With Ahead-of-Schedule Battery Plant
- Japanese battery maker accelerates capacity addition in Nevada
- Musk stepping up production of Model 3 after initial glitches
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Panasonic Corp., the sole battery supplier for Tesla Inc.’s best-selling Model 3, is taking steps to help Elon Musk solve the “production hell” problem that has plagued the car that’s key to making profits.
The Japanese company had proposed to add three production lines at Tesla’s Gigafactory in Nevada by the end of the year. It’s now aiming to complete the plan ahead of schedule, Yoshio Ito, head of Panasonic’s automotive business, said in an interview Tuesday in Tokyo. Ito wouldn’t specify an exact date for opening the facility that feeds the Model 3.