Davids Celebrates Grand Opening of Panasonic EV Battery Facility in De Soto

DE SOTO, KS — Today, Representative Sharice Davids joined local leaders, business executives, and community members to celebrate the official grand opening of the Panasonic EV battery manufacturing facility in De Soto. The project, which Davids has supported since its earliest stages, is expected to bring 4,000 direct jobs and thousands more indirect jobs to the region, while helping to secure America’s supply chains and grow the Kansas economy.

“This is a transformational moment for De Soto, Johnson County, and our entire state,” said Davids. “From the beginning, I’ve worked across the aisle and across levels of government to support this project — not just because of the jobs and economic growth it brings, but because of what it represents: Kansas leading the way in American manufacturing, clean energy innovation, and long-term economic opportunity.”

Davids has played a key role in preparing the region for the Panasonic facility. She helped secure federal investments for key infrastructure upgrades, including improvements to 103rd Street and other regional roads around the new facility. She also brought former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to De Soto to see firsthand how the bipartisan infrastructure law is being put to work supporting the region’s growth.

In addition to advocating for strong local partnerships and workforce development pipelines, Davids has continued to spotlight the need for responsible, community-focused growth. She has hosted roundtables with local officials, education leaders, and small businesses to ensure the benefits of the Panasonic facility reach all corners of the region.

The De Soto facility is Panasonic’s largest EV battery manufacturing site in the United States and one of the largest economic development projects in Kansas history. Production is expected to ramp up in the coming months, with significant hiring and training efforts already underway.