Panasonic Energy has entered into a multi-year agreement to provide cylindrical batteries to Zoox, the Amazon-backed autonomous ride-hailing company.
The lithium-ion batteries will be used to power its robotaxi fleet deployments.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
Under the deal, Panasonic Energy will supply its latest 2170-format cells, with deliveries scheduled to begin in early 2026.
Initial production for Zoox will come from Panasonic Energy’s facilities in Japan, with plans to extend supply to the company’s plant in Kansas at a later stage.
Zoox supply chain, quality and reliability vice president Bruce Baumgartner said: “This is an exceptionally exciting time for Zoox, and we are pleased to have Panasonic Energy as a new partner in our journey to redefine urban mobility.
“Their commitment to innovation and quality aligns well with our mission to create a safer, cleaner, and more enjoyable way for people to get around cities. We’re proud to be working with them as our robotaxi service and operations continue to scale.”
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataZoox has developed a purpose-built robotaxi vehicle and has recently opened its first serial production site for these models in Hayward, California, to support scaled manufacturing.
The company has also introduced a robotaxi ride-hailing service in Las Vegas, which it describes as a fully driverless service using purpose-built robotaxi.
According to Panasonic Energy, the 2170 cells being supplied are designed to provide the energy density and safety characteristics required for Zoox’s high-performance robotaxis.
Panasonic Energy CEO Kazuo Tadanobu said: “Zoox is truly unique. This represents a pivotal step for Panasonic Energy with the opportunity to contribute towards the next generation of mobility innovation.
“Zoox is reshaping urban transportation and Panasonic Energy is helping power these robotaxis for a safer, more sustainable, and connected future.”
Panasonic Energy states that, as of September 2025, it had shipped around 20 billion lithium-ion EV batteries worldwide, equivalent to powering approximately four million EVs.
It reports no vehicle recalls related to battery-caused issues over that period.
