Toyota, Panasonic Join Forces to Build Hybrid Car Batteries
» Posted November 9, 2020 • Resources | Share This Post
A pair of big-name Japanese companies have formed an alliance to build batteries for hybrid vehicles.
Toyota and Panasonic will begin the joint effort to build lithium-ion batteries in 2022, the companies recently announced. They say the venture - Prime Planet Energy & Solutions - will be able to pump out up to 500,000 batteries a year.
“As electrification of automobiles is a must in tackling environmental issues such as global warming and air pollution, the global electric vehicle market is expected to continue growing rapidly,” the companies said in a recent announcement. “This expansion in production capability is a step that allows Prime Planet Energy & Solutions to handle the growing demand of prismatic lithium-ion batteries for hybrid vehicles.”
The joint venture officially launched in April, with Toyota taking a 51% ownership interest in PPE&S. That followed three years of study on the feasibility of the alliance, according to the companies.
Panasonic is already one of the world’s largest manufacturers of batteries for electric vehicles, a market that Reuters says has intensified with competition from companies like Tesla and Samsung. Toyota expects to sell as many as 5.5 million electric vehicles by 2025.
Safety Risks Posed by Defective Vehicles
Toyota’s shift to electric vehicles is likely the wave of the future, but the carmaker and other auto manufacturers are still having a hard time producing vehicles that are safe today.
In February, Toyota and Lexus said they were recalling some 700,000 cars because of a fuel pump defect that could cause the vehicles to stall unexpectedly and lead to a crash. The number of cars included in the recall has since ballooned to more than 3.3 million.
Fortunately, the California lemon law protects many car owners and lessors in the Golden State. The law requires Toyota and other car manufacturers to perform various repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. It also obligates the company to buy back - or replace, in some cases - cars that the manufacturer is unable or unwilling to fix.
There is no specific number of repair requests or attempts that must be made before the buyback or replace obligation kicks in. An experienced California lemon law lawyer can help you understand your rights and options.
Talk With a California Lemon Law Lawyer
If you are a California car owner or lessor feeling stuck with a lemon, it is vital to seek the assistance of a seasoned California lemon law attorney.
At the Bickel Law Firm, California lemon law lawyer Brian Bickel and his team have represented hundreds of clients in defective vehicle cases in Southern California and across the state. We have a strong track record of success for our clients.
Our offices are conveniently located in Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco. Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a California lemon law lawyer today.
