Panasonic Group’s Panasonic Energy will supply lithium-ion battery cells to Zoox, Amazon’s autonomous ride-hailing company.Under the agreement, Panasonic Energy will supply its latest 2170 cylindrical lithium-ion cells to power Zoox's fleet of robotaxis, with delivery starting in early 2026 to support Zoox's growing service and operations.

The agreement comes after Zoox recently opened its robotaxi mass production facility in Hayward, California.

The company has also recently launched the autonomous service in Las Vegas, becoming the first company to provide a fully driverless ride-hailing service in a purpose-built robotaxi.

In a statement, Zoox explained that Panasonic Energy's 2170 cells are critical to the performance of its robotaxis, claiming that the batteries offer superior energy density, safety and reliability, which are crucial characteristics for Zoox's robo-vehicles.

As of September 2025, Panasonic Energy had supplied approximately 20 billion lithium-ion battery cells for electric vehicles worldwide, equivalent to powering four million electric vehicles, with no vehicle recalls due to battery-related issues, Panasonic Energy said.

The supply of these advanced cells will begin in Japan, with this expected to expand to Panasonic Energy's Kansas plant soon.According to a recent market report by Grand View Research, the US robotaxi market, which was valued at approximately £0.45 billion in 2024, is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 70 per cent until 2030, fuelled by progressive urban policy initiatives in cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin and Miami.

Globally, the market is expected to exceed £40-50 billion by 2030, with North America and Asia-Pacific emerging as leading regions, says the report.

Kazuo Tadanobu, chief executive officer of Panasonic Energy, said that the deal with Zoox will give the battery developer the opportunity to contribute to next-generation mobility innovation.

“Zoox is reshaping urban transportation and Panasonic Energy is helping power these robotaxis for a safer, more sustainable, and connected future,” he added.

Bruce Baumgartner, vice president of supply chain, quality and reliability at Zoox, emphasised that Panasonic Energy's commitment to innovation and quality is aligned with Zoox’s mission to create better mobility experiences. “We're proud to be working with them as our robotaxi service and operations continue to scale," he added.

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