Kippo News from Wednesday, Jun 16, 2010
In light of the intensifying global competition for dominance in the battery market, the Development Bank of Japan (DBJ)’s Kansai Branch recently made a proposal aimed at promoting the Kansai region’s large battery industry. DBJ said Kansai’s battery industry needs to be strengthened in a comprehensive manner, through cooperation across different industries and strategic provision of policy resources across administrative borders.
As one of the main points, DBJ suggested that battery manufacturers should enhance cooperation with user industries of lithium-ion batteries, such as the photovoltaic power generation industry, the automobile industry, the housing industry, and the smart grid industry. Specifically, DBJ said Kansai’s battery industry should cooperate with the Tokai region (in hybrid cars) and the Chugoku region (in electric cars), both home to large automobile industries, and with Kansai’s large housing industry and its test sites, thereby developing products from the viewpoint of user industries.
Furthermore, DBJ said Kansai’s battery industry should be supported in a positive manner, in order to help maintain and boost Japan’s overall industrial competitiveness. It called for the national government to create an environment that enables battery manufacturers to make swift and bold investment decisions.
Kansai’s lithium-ion battery industry and photovoltaic cell industry have dominant shares in the domestic market, holding approximately 80% and approximately 70% of the market share, respectively. However, their market shares in the global market have been decreasing due to intensified competition.
Inquiry: Planning & Research Division, Kansai Branch, Development Bank of Japan
TEL: 06-4706-6455