Tesla is not alone in embracing the 4680 format. Panasonic has said it will make 4680 cells for Tesla at a plant in Japan. Japanese broadcaster NHK reported in March that Panasonic is also looking for U.S. land to build a battery factory near Tesla’s Texas plant.
In addition, some Chinese battery manufacturers have said they will make 4680 cells with their own chemistries and production innovations for automaker clients.
While Tesla’s nickel-based 4680 cells are likely to find their way into the Cybertruck and Semi cargo truck given their energy density, the automaker is also ramping up its use of cheaper lithium-iron-phosphate cells from Chinese battery manufacturers such as CATL.
Tesla executives have said lithium-iron cells are more appropriate in use cases that require lower energy density, such as standard-range vehicles.
“To the question about ‘should everything be 4680,’ it doesn’t have to be,” Baglino said on the January earnings call. “And in the end, it’s about cost competitiveness, scalability and manufacturing.”
Reuters contributed to this report.
