What Will We Bring to a City Where Cars Have No Steering Wheels?
Interview with the CEO of Panasonic Energy
—Taking on the Challenge of Powering Social Infrastructure in the AI Era: The Human Touch Will Shape the Future
The Society of the Future Is Already Here
Recently, I took a ride in a self-driving robotaxi in the United States. I hailed it on my smartphone, and a car without a steering wheel quietly pulled up in front of me. I tapped my destination, the car set off, and all I had to do was get out when I arrived. Even the payment was processed automatically. It was so convenient that, once I had experienced it, I felt I could never go back to the way things were. The door to the future society we have seen in movies is already open.
Behind this robotaxi, built on an electric vehicle (EV) platform, are the cloud, artificial intelligence (AI), and data centers (DCs) that support vast amounts of computing around the clock. And keeping those DCs and mobility solutions running—even in an emergency—are the batteries we make: batteries that never stop.
Autonomous robots crisscross logistics warehouses, while agricultural AI analyzes weather data to cultivate crops. Compact mobility solutions travel through communities, helping older adults stay mobile. Around the world, all forms of social infrastructure are becoming connected through digital technology and electricity.
No matter how far technology advances, nothing can run without batteries: the physical power source that brings technology to life and continues to provide people with peace of mind. Behind it all, there must always be safe, reliable batteries that never stop—continuously supporting the evolution of social infrastructure.
Turning Sweeping Change into Opportunity through Standardization and Adaptability
EVs and DCs, key markets for our company, are generally viewed as entirely separate fields. I do not see them that way. In a future where AI serves as society's brain, EVs and robots connect to the cloud, and people's lives converge with the digital world, today's expanding use of EVs and DCs is part of a continuous process of building the social infrastructure. Self-driving vehicles already rely on the cloud, onboard AI, and sensors. Robots run on AI-powered computing. Our urban infrastructure is already connected by electricity. In other words, EVs and DCs are part of the same powerful current carrying us toward an AI-powered society.
At Panasonic Energy, we apply the materials, manufacturing, and production technologies developed for EVs to DCs. In turn, we apply the exceptionally safe and reliable system technologies refined for DCs back to EVs. In this way, we have built a business model in which these two growth engines advance together. Our proven track record of supporting EV development at a high level has earned the market's trust, enabling us to make a major contribution to the rapid advancement of DCs. Our expertise in materials, manufacturing, and production technologies for cylindrical batteries, combined with our diverse talent—our most important management asset—gives us a powerful ability to adapt to change.
The greatest source of our resilience in the face of change is our manufacturing flexibility and distinctive asset strategy. To explain how this works, let me use the analogy of monaka, a traditional Japanese confection consisting of a crisp wafer shell filled with sweet bean paste.
The outer casings of the cylindrical batteries we manufacture, in standardized sizes such as 1865 and 2170, are like the crisp wafer shell of a monaka. We standardize these casing sizes and the equipment used to produce them while flexibly optimizing the materials and technologies inside—the "filling"—to meet changing market demand. It is much like using the same wafer shell while changing the filling from red bean paste to white bean paste.
This analogy makes the concept easy to visualize. Without wasting our existing equipment or human resources, we can quickly pivot to another growth market while fully leveraging the expertise we have accumulated. With this flexible business model, we do not fear periods of sweeping change. We can always see them as opportunities.
Honing the Human Touch at The Forest Conference
The more digital our world becomes, the more convinced I am that the human touch—qualities unique to humans—will be our greatest corporate asset. We have entered an age in which AI can handle complex data analysis and make processes more efficient. That is precisely why we should devote our time to deepening communication, connecting with one another heart to heart, and asking what truly makes people happy.
Designing and manufacturing batteries requires science: numbers and logic. But bringing those batteries into society and providing people with peace of mind also requires artistic sensibility: the passion and sense of purpose that kindle a light in the human heart.
Since our founding, we have upheld our mission "Powering a society where shared well-being and environmental sustainability thrive together," our vision "Be the energy that shapes the future," and our will "As humanity, we push beyond." To empower every employee to put these words into practice, we created a unique initiative called The Forest Conference. Employees gather in lush forests and primeval woodlands for fieldwork that brings them face to face with wildlife, experiences such as harvesting honey from bee nests, and scientific lectures on soil and tree ecosystems. Rather than acquiring superficial knowledge in a classroom, participants experience firsthand the gifts of life and the natural environment through all five senses. There, each person speaks candidly with others about why we have come together at this company and what we work for, deepening their own sense of purpose.
When I look across our company, I see many hidden gems—people who have yet to recognize their own brilliance. My greatest responsibility as a leader is to uncover the strengths within each person, combine those strengths, and create opportunities for people to take on challenges.
Creating a Picture Book in Which Everyone Is the Protagonist
Every year, I share with employees a single illustration that I conceive myself, capturing my vision of where we stand today and where we aim to be.
This year's illustration is titled "Together, We Keep Taking on Challenges." Beyond the raging waves, some are laying a firm foundation and building a new base, while others have gained new wings and are preparing to fly toward the next cliff. Below the cliff, everyone comes together to support those striving to overcome difficult challenges and reach the top. The story I envision is more than a business plan; it is a picture book of our corporate history, chronicling Panasonic Energy's journey—and every employee who appears in its pages is an irreplaceable protagonist.
Change around the world will only intensify. But when I see our employees in action, I am convinced that we will fulfill our mission. Every one of us is a protagonist, paving the way to the future—and that is Panasonic Energy's greatest competitive strength.
2026-10-09
