Japanese manufacturers Asahi Kasei and Toyota Tsusho have established a strategic partnership for the supply of automotive lithium-ion battery separators in North America.

The companies’ respective subsidiaries in the US—Asahi Kasei Battery Separator America (AKBSA) and Toyota Tsusho America—have finalized a capacity rights agreement for AKBSA to supply its Hipore wet-process separator to Toyota Tsusho. The agreement entitles Toyota Tsusho to a preferential share of AKBSA’s production capacity from its new coating facility currently under construction in Charlotte, North Carolina, starting in mid-2027.

The partnership allows Asahi Kasei to mitigate the risk of market fluctuations and manage its resources effectively by maintaining high rates of operation. Toyota Tsusho will benefit from a stable supply of battery separators manufactured at the Charlotte plant as it aims to establish an automotive battery supply chain in North America.

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. Developing the Canadian facility alongside its US plants will allow the company to continue building its presence within the growing battery ecosystem in North America.

“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.

Source: Asahi Kasei