SoftBank Prepares to Manufacture Batteries for AI Data Centers

SoftBank Group Corp.’s mobile unit plans to transform part of its factory in Osaka into one of Japan’s biggest production lines for large-scale batteries in an ambitious attempt at powering its own AI data centers.

SoftBank Corp. aims to bring that production online within the next five years, according to people familiar with the matter. They asked not to be named as deliberations remain private. After SoftBank executives mulled different purposes for the plant in Sakai city, including robotics manufacturing, they decided to pursue energy.