Panasonic Energy signs an agreement with Redwood: Panasonic Energy entered into an agreement with Redwood Materials, a sustainable battery materials manufacturer, to purchase cathode active materials and copper foil for EV lithium-ion batteries. As such, the recycled copper foil will be used to manufacture Panasonic’s lithium-ion batteries at its facility in Sparks, Nevada in 2024. The cathode active materials will be used in Panasonic lithium-ion batteries to be manufactured at a new facility in De Soto, Kansas starting in 2025.

General Motors signs an agreement with Vale: Vale Canada, a subsidiary of Vale S.A., a producer of base metals, signed a long-term supply agreement with General Motors for battery-grade nickel sulfate from Vale’s proposed plant in Québec, Canada. As such, starting from 2026 Vale will supply battery-grade nickel sulfate, equivalent to 25,000 metric tons per year of contained nickel (sufficient to supply approximately 350,000 EVs), for use in GM’s Ultium battery cathodes. This will power a broad portfolio of the company’s EVs.

CATL and Daihatsu sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU): CATL and Daihatsu Motor signed an MoU for strategic cooperation on battery supply and battery technologies to promote e-mobility in Japan. Under this agreement, CATL will provide batteries to Daihatsu’s EVs and the two companies will promote the application of advanced battery technologies including CTP (cell-to-pack) and BMS.

BMW to invest CNY 10 billion in China for EV battery production: BMW announced plans to invest CNY 10 billion (~USD 1.4 billion) to expand its EV battery production capacity in Shenyang in China’s Liaoning province. BMW will carry out the investment through its 75%-owned BMW Brilliance Automobile (BBA) joint venture. No details of the production capacity have been disclosed.