Panasonic's De Soto Battery Plant Ramps Up as Second Wing Rises

Panasonic's sprawling battery plant in De Soto, billed as the largest electric-vehicle battery factory in the United States, continued ramping up this summer as the company pushed toward higher output and expanded the site.

As of mid-2026 the plant employed roughly 1,800 workers with four production lines in operation, and reports indicated it was nearing the halfway point of its planned production capacity. Construction was underway on a second wing expected to come online in 2027, and the company has signaled plans to produce batteries for AI data centers alongside those for electric vehicles.

At full capacity, the De Soto facility is projected to employ about 4,000 people, making it one of the most significant private investments in Kansas history. The plant has reshaped the economy of the Kansas City suburbs, spurring road improvements and a wave of supplier interest.

State and local leaders have pointed to the project as proof that Kansas can compete for cutting-edge advanced manufacturing, though the ramp-up has come with the challenges of hiring and training thousands of new workers.