Tesla continues to showcase just how in-demand their EVs are: the company recently asked Panasonic, lithium-ion battery manufacturer extraordinaire, for more 4680 batteries as soon as possible.

This battery and its unique tabless design remain important to the future of Tesla. The ongoing reports from across the industry indicate that Tesla and Panasonic have made significant progress towards mass production, but the levels needed by Tesla are still further out than originally predicted. EVS Network believes that the long delays and missed production predictions of the Cybertruck and the Model 2 are related, at least in part, to this situation.

Panasonic already announced new 4680-focused production lines at their factory in Wakayama, Japan, but those won’t be in full swing until 2024. And while we already reported on Tesla’s in-house 4680 production at its Austin, Texas gigafactory, this new request by Tesla for more batteries ASAP indicates that demand is seriously outstripping supply.

Will Panasonic spring for a 4680-gigafactory of its own? It’s not out of the realm of possibility, since Tesla is far from their only customer, and since the company’s Energy Segment is certainly growing and earning them profit.

Hirokazu Umeda, Panasonic chief financial officer, was quoted in reporting from InsideEVs:
“We can’t say more than what has been released, but we are getting many requests. We seeing [sic] continued strong demand from Tesla, for 2170 batteries, but also for faster development of the 4680.”