Panasonic Kansas
De Soto, KS | EV Battery Manufacturing
12-Month Risk Trend
Monthly scores calculated from weighted factor assessments. Historical data reflects month-end evaluations.
Risk Score Breakdown
Four equally-weighted factors. Workforce and power/grid constraints embedded within. Confidence interval reflects data recency and source reliability.
Score Change Log
Audit trail of risk score changes with rationale. Full derivation notes available upon request.
| Date | Old | New | Change | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2026 | -- | -- | -- | Monthly review; see RAID log for details |
Contact info@hccouncil.org for detailed factor-by-factor scoring derivation.
Key Risks
Panasonic Kansas held grand opening July 14, 2025, representing the largest EV battery manufacturing plant in the United States and the largest private investment in Kansas history. The $4B facility produced its millionth battery by October 2025. Currently employs 1,200+ workers with target of 4,000 at full production. The 4.7 million sq ft plant on 300 acres in De Soto's Astra Enterprise Park produces 2170 cylindrical lithium-ion batteries at 66 per second when fully operational, enough for 500,000 EVs annually (30 GWh capacity). Kansas provided approximately $830M in tax incentives over 10 years. Economic impact study projects $2.5B annual contribution to Kansas economy and 16,500 construction jobs. City of De Soto reduced property taxes 30% due to ripple effects. Full production timeline uncertain due to workforce sustainability and construction timing factors. This is Panasonic's second U.S. plant after Nevada (which produced 10B+ cells since 2017). Construction started late 2022, opened almost exactly 3 years later. (Sources: Kansas Commerce Jul 2025, KCUR Jan/Aug 2025, Kansas Reflector Oct 2025, Sen. Moran Jul 2025)
RAID Log
Risk assessments reviewed monthly. Last review: Jan 9, 2026
| Risk | Impact | Probability | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|---|
| EV demand slowdown | HIGH | HIGH | Tesla sales declining; federal policy uncertain |
| Full production delay | HIGH | HIGH | Mar 2027 target pushed back indefinitely |
| 4,000 job target at risk | MEDIUM | HIGH | Currently 1,100 hired; ramp uncertain |
| Tesla customer concentration | MEDIUM | MEDIUM | Diversifying to other OEMs |
| Action | Owner | Due Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand opening ceremony | Panasonic | Jul 14, 2025 | COMPLETE |
| Production line 1-4 activation | Operations | H2 2025 | ACTIVE |
| Workforce ramp to 4,000 | HR | 2027 | ACTIVE |
| Issue | Severity | Status | Resolution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full capacity timeline uncertain | HIGH | ACTIVE | 32 GWh target; no firm date |
| Decision | Date | Rationale | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Select De Soto, Kansas | Jul 2022 | $829M APEX incentives; central location | $4B investment; largest in KS history |
| Grand opening ceremony | Jul 14, 2025 | Demonstrate progress to state | Mass production at 50,000 cells/day |
| Delay full production | Jul 2025 | EV demand softness; policy uncertainty | Mar 2027 target abandoned |
Upcoming Milestones
Dates from official company announcements and regulatory filings