Tesla Says It Hopes to Work With Panasonic on Solar Energy
U.S. electric car maker Tesla says it plans to start working with Japanese electronics company Panasonic Corp. on solar energy.
Tesla’s said on its corporate blog Monday that the companies have signed a non-binding letter of intent to begin collaborating on Panasonic’s production of photovoltaic cells and modules at a facility under construction by San Mateo, California-based solar-panel company SolarCity Corp. in Buffalo, New York.
The deal requires shareholders’ approval of Tesla’s planned acquisition of SolarCity.
Panasonic confirmed it was studying a collaboration with Tesla to make solar products at SolarCity’s Buffalo facility, but declined to give details.
Palo Alto, California-based Tesla said the cells and modules would be used with its energy storage products. Tesla CEO Elon Musk says SolarCity’s installation network and Tesla’s global energy storage could provide customers a one-stop shop for sustainable energy and transportation. Shareholders are due to vote on the acquisition on Nov. 17.
