EGI Battery Opens Japan Technical Center to Advance Development and Commercialization of Next-Generation Battery Cells

Yokohama-based EGI Battery KK launches its Japan Technical Center to strengthen R&D, materials science, and supply-chain capabilities to support advanced lithium-ion battery development, manufacturing, supplier partnerships and customer relationships across Asia Pacific.

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Nov. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- EGI Battery, a U.S.-owned lithium-ion battery cell company, today announces the establishment of EGI Battery KK, its Japanese subsidiary, and the official opening of its Japan Technical Center in Yokohama. Japan's history of battery innovation, advanced manufacturing know-how and experienced talent make it a strategic location to bolster EGI's technical operations.

EGI Battery KK's Technical Center will initially focus on conducting research & development, evaluating advanced battery materials, and strengthening supplier relationships and technology partnerships to support EGI's advanced battery cell development and commercialization efforts.

"Building better batteries takes more than a breakthrough in the lab. It takes capabilities to connect materials, engineering and manufacturing to produce batteries which enable our customers' technology," said Tom McGuckin, CEO of EGI Battery. "Establishing EGI Battery KK is a strategic investment in those capabilities. By connecting Japan's deep battery expertise with the manufacturing operations we are building in Michigan, we aim to bring the next generation of advanced lithium-ion batteries into production and expand what our customers can achieve." 

EGI Battery KK also establishes a local base for working directly with customers and partners across Asia Pacific. The team will help connect regional market needs with EGI's cell development and commercialization efforts. McGuckin added, "This regional presence deepens collaboration between our technical development activities and our customers' applications."

Junji Tabuchi, President of EGI Battery KK, will lead the Yokohama operation, including its technical partnerships and regional business development activities. Tabuchi brings more than 35 years of lithium-ion battery experience across UBE Corporation, NEC TOKIN and E-One Moli Energy, including leadership of battery materials R&D at UBE.

"The opportunity is not only to develop better battery materials, but to turn those advances into cells that can be manufactured reliably and meet demanding customer requirements," said Tabuchi. "Our initial focus is on materials, R&D and our supplier partnerships. We are intentionally building a strong technical foundation in Japan so we can move promising research and engineering into commercial production."

As the Japan operations develop, EGI Battery KK plans to expand into cell design, with a focus on electrodes, and then battery manufacturing capabilities. These future capabilities will leverage the center's initial materials, supply-chain and R&D activities, strengthening EGI's ability to develop and validate new battery technologies.

The Japan Technical Center complements EGI's manufacturing expansion in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Through a phased approach, EGI is building the production capabilities and technical expertise needed to manufacture advanced lithium-ion pouch cells at scale. The Japan operation's initial materials evaluation, R&D and supplier collaboration will support that work, strengthening the connection between battery innovation and U.S. production.

About EGI Battery

EGI Battery is a lithium-ion battery company delivering the power that makes the next generation of drones, robots, aircraft and vehicles possible. Its team brings decades of combined lithium-ion experience, from materials science and cell design to high-volume manufacturing, giving EGI the know-how to develop innovative cell technology and produce it at scale. To meet growing demand and build a more resilient battery supply, EGI is scaling manufacturing at its Zeeb Manufacturing Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where fill and formation is already running and full cell production begins in 2027, providing customers with a direct path to NDAA-compliant cells. The company also operates a technical center in Yokohama, Japan, dedicated to battery materials research and development. The Yokohama team evaluates advanced materials, builds partnerships with suppliers and technology companies, and serves as a local base for customers across Asia.

Learn more at egibattery.com.

SOURCE EGI Battery Inc.