Establishment of automotive battery supply chain partnership in North America

Diversified global manufacturer Asahi Kasei and Toyota Tsusho have established a strategic partnership for the supply of automotive lithium-ion battery (LIB) separator in North America. Their respective subsidiaries in the U.S., Asahi Kasei Battery Separator America, LLC (AKBSA) and Toyota Tsusho America, Inc. (TAI), have finalized a capacity rights agreement for AKBSA to supply Hipore™ wet-process LIB separator to TAI.

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Charlotte Plant with new Hipore™ coating line under construction

The agreement entitles TAI to a preferential share of AKBSA’s production capacity for Hipore™ LIB separator. Beginning in mid-2027, AKBSA will supply TAI with coated Hipore™ separator from its new coating facility currently under construction in Charlotte, North Carolina.

This partnership allows Asahi Kasei to mitigate the risk of market fluctuations and effectively utilize resources by maintaining high rates of operation. Toyota Tsusho will benefit from a stable supply of LIB separator manufactured at the Charlotte plant as it promotes the establishment of an automotive battery supply chain in North America.

By combining Asahi Kasei's strengths in functional materials and Toyota Tsusho's expertise in mobility, the partnership will accelerate the adoption of high-quality wet-process separator in the North American battery market and facilitate the manufacture of higher-performance electric vehicles.

“This alliance fits perfectly with Asahi Kasei's global growth strategy to build and strengthen a supply chain in North America with our partners and to capture medium- to long-term growth opportunities in the electrified vehicle market,” said Ryu Taniguchi, Lead Executive Officer of Asahi Kasei and responsible for the company’s separator business. “As a supplier of high-quality LIB separator, in partnership with Toyota Tsusho we will build an ecosystem that supports electrification in North America and leads the way to a carbon-neutral future.”

Kazuyuki Urata, COO of Toyota Tsusho’s Circular Economy Division, added, “This collaboration with Asahi Kasei is an important step toward the acceleration of electrification in North America and the realization of a sustainable mobility society. Toyota Tsusho will leverage its global network and expertise in the mobility field to build a highly reliable automotive LIB supply chain, thereby creating a foundation to support the spread of electrified vehicles and the reduction of their environmental impact.”

To support growing demand in North America, Asahi Kasei is currently advancing plans to establish a battery separator facility in Canada, as announced in May 2024. Asahi Kasei’s separator business is positioned for Growth Potential in its medium-term management plan, with a focus on expanding Hipore™ wet-process separator in North America. Developing the Canadian facility alongside its U.S. plants will allow the company to continue building its presence within the growing battery ecosystem in North America.

About Asahi Kasei

The Asahi Kasei Group contributes to life and living for people around the world. Since its foundation in 1922 with ammonia and cellulose fiber business, Asahi Kasei has consistently grown through the proactive transformation of its business portfolio to meet the evolving needs of every age. With more than 50,000 employees worldwide, the company contributes to sustainable society by providing solutions to the world’s challenges through its three business sectors of Healthcare, Homes, and Material. For more information, visit https://www.asahi-kasei.com/.

Asahi Kasei is also dedicated to sustainability initiatives and is contributing to reaching a carbon neutral society by 2050. To learn more, visit https://www.asahi-kasei.com/sustainability/.

About Toyota Tsusho

Toyota Tsusho Corporation was founded in 1948 as the trading company for the Toyota Group. Today, Toyota Tsusho, with approximately 70,000 group employees in about 130 countries, strives to contribute to the creation of prosperous societies. Toyota Tsusho continues to expand as a global leader in vehicle exports and automobile production support. In addition to our long-cultivated mobility-related core business, we intend to accelerate growth investments for our next stage and elevate each of our businesses to a higher dimension, focusing on our seven priority domains: Next Mobility; Renewable Energy & Energy Management; Africa; Circular Economy; Batteries; Hydrogen & Alternative Fuels; and Economy of Life.

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