The electric car maker has entered a non-binding letter of intent with Panasonic to begin collaborating on the manufacturing and production of photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules in New York. The agreement is reliant on shareholders’ approval of Tesla’s acquisition of Solar City.
Tesla will use the solar cells to work with its energy storage products, Powerwall and Powerpack, as part of an integrated sustainable energy solution to residential, commercial and grid-scale customers.
Tesla said in its corporate blog that the parties intend for Panasonic to begin PV cell and module production at its facility in New York in 2017. Tesla will provide a long-term purchase commitment for those cells from Panasonic.
Tesla co-founder and chief technical officer JB Straubel said: “We are excited to expand our partnership with Panasonic as we move towards a combined Tesla and Solar City. By working together on solar, we will be able to accelerate production of high-efficiency, extremely reliable solar cells and modules at the best cost.”
The partnership extends an established relationship between the two firms including the production of electric vehicle and grid storage battery cells at Tesla’s Gigafactory.