Toyota subsidiaries receive battery separators from Asahi Kasei
In July 2025, Asahi Kasei Battery Separator America (AKBSA) and Toyota Tsusho America (TAI) announced a strategic partnership to supply Hipore lithium-ion battery separators for electric vehicle (EV) production in North America. This collaboration is a significant step towards accelerating electrification in the region and achieving sustainable mobility.
Asahi Kasei, a leading supplier of innovative lithium-ion battery separators, will produce the separators using an advanced wet-process technology at a new coating plant currently under construction in Charlotte, North Carolina. Production is expected to commence around 2027. The facility's location, approximately 90 minutes from Toyota's battery-grade lithium refinery and battery manufacturing plant in Greensboro, North Carolina, enables a localized, resilient supply chain for Toyota's EV battery production.
Toyota Tsusho America will receive preferential access to AKBSA's separator production capacity, supporting Toyota's broader electrification targets, including plans for 30 GWh annual battery production capacity by 2030. By regionalizing production of critical battery components like separators close to assembly and raw material refining facilities, they reduce supply chain risks, transportation emissions, and improve operational stability.
The partnership also aligns with Asahi Kasei's global growth strategy to build a supply chain in North America. Asahi Kasei is also developing a related separator plant in Canada primarily serving Honda, helping expand North America’s growing battery ecosystem.
Toyota Tsusho will leverage its global network and mobility expertise to establish a reliable supply chain for lithium-ion batteries. The company had already secured cathode material from LG Chem in 2023 for its own cell production. Toyota aims to produce a three-row electric SUV for the North American market in its Kentucky plant by 2026, after a postponement from the initial 2025 plan.
The collaboration between Asahi Kasei and Toyota Tsusho paves the way for a carbon-neutral future. The partnership supports the proliferation of electric vehicles in North America and regional production of electric vehicles, which is part of Toyota's strategy to build an electric vehicle production chain in the USA.
The partnership will accelerate the introduction of high-performance battery separators in the North American market. Ryu Taniguchi, the Lead Executive Officer of Asahi Kasei, heads Asahi Kasei's separator business, while Kazuyuki Urata, COO of Toyota Tsusho's Circular Economy Division, is involved in the collaboration. The partnership aims to keep transportation routes short, ensure stable supply, and reduce the risk of market fluctuations.
In summary, the strategic partnership between Asahi Kasei Battery Separator America and Toyota Tsusho America will significantly contribute to the growth of the electric vehicle industry in North America, providing high-quality battery components and supporting Toyota's ambitious electrification goals.
[1] Asahi Kasei Corporation. (2025). Asahi Kasei Battery Separator America and Toyota Tsusho America Form Strategic Partnership for Lithium-Ion Battery Separator Supply in North America. Retrieved from https://www.asahikasei-global.com/en/news/2025/07/16/01-000465/ [2] Toyota Motor Corporation. (2025). Toyota to Produce Three-Row Electric SUV in Kentucky Plant by 2026. Retrieved from https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/corporate/34688140.html [3] LG Energy Solution. (2023). LGES and Toyota Tsusho to Establish Joint Venture for Battery Cell Production in the United States. Retrieved from https://www.lges.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/lg-es-and-toyota-tsusho-to-establish-joint-venture-for-battery-cell-production-in-the-united-states/ [4] Greensboro Partnership. (2023). Toyota to Build Battery-Grade Lithium Refinery and Battery Manufacturing Plant in Greensboro. Retrieved from https://www.greensboropartnership.com/news/toyota-to-build-battery-grade-lithium-refinery-and-battery-manufacturing-plant-in-greensboro/
Technology plays a crucial role in this partnership, as Asahi Kasei will utilize an advanced wet-process technology to produce Hipore lithium-ion battery separators at their new coating plant in Charlotte, North Carolina. This technology will enable them to produce high-quality battery components, contributing to the growth of the electric vehicle industry in North America.
The strategic alliance between Asahi Kasei Battery Separator America and Toyota Tsusho America underscores the importance of technology in the electrification of the automotive sector, as it aims to keep transportation routes short, ensure stable supply, and reduce the risk of market fluctuations.
