- AKBSA will supply coated Hipore™ separators to TAI starting mid-2027.
- A new coating facility is under construction in Charlotte, North Carolina.
- Asahi Kasei plans to establish a battery separator facility in Canada.
- The partnership aims to support the North American automotive battery supply chain.
Partnership Overview
Asahi Kasei and Toyota Tsusho have formed a strategic partnership to supply automotive lithium-ion battery separators in North America. Their U.S. subsidiaries, Asahi Kasei Battery Separator America, LLC (AKBSA) and Toyota Tsusho America, Inc. (TAI), have agreed on capacity rights for AKBSA to supply Hipore™ wet-process separators to TAI.
Production and Supply
Starting mid-2027, AKBSA will provide TAI with coated Hipore™ separators from a new facility under construction in Charlotte, North Carolina. This agreement grants TAI preferential access to AKBSA’s production capacity, ensuring a stable supply of separators for the North American automotive battery market.
Strategic Goals
The collaboration aims to mitigate market risks for Asahi Kasei and optimize resource utilization by maintaining high production rates. For Toyota Tsusho, the partnership supports the establishment of a reliable automotive battery supply chain in North America, crucial for the growth of electric vehicles.
Future Developments
To meet increasing demand, Asahi Kasei is advancing plans to build a battery separator facility in Canada, as announced in May 2024. This expansion aligns with Asahi Kasei’s medium-term management plan to grow its presence in the North American battery ecosystem, focusing on the Hipore™ wet-process separator.
