\fenergy storage. In December, CATL began Phase 1 production at its new EV battery factory in China. Once completed, the plant will be the largest EV battery factory in the world with an annual output of 120 GWh. It will be more than three times the size of Tesla's Gigafactory in Nevada. CATL is investing 17 billion yuan (US$2.6 billion) in the plant and has said it will create about 10,000 jobs once fully operational. Phase I of operations will have an annual capacity of 60 GWh and an additional 60 GWh for Phase 2. Annual output of 120 GWh is enough to power about 1.2 million EVs. In the new U.S. plant, Panasonic plans to make a newly developed, bigger and more powerful "4680" battery, one of the people said. Panasonic may install lines for other batteries at the new facility, as well, though that will depend on customer demand. The new battery design, known as the "4680" format, was unveiled by Panasonic in October 2021 at a media event. The numerical appearance of the battery is based on its dimensions of 46 millimeters (mm) wide and 80 mm long. Panasonic says the new and improved nickel-cobalt-aluminum 4680 cell will store more energy, reduce battery costs by 50% and increase battery production by 100 times by 2030.Because of the larger volume of 4680 batteries, fewer cells and related parts are needed to power an EV, leading Elon Musk to tout the technology as the key to unlocking $25,000 Teslas. Panasonic will start mass production of 4680 batteries in Japan in the fiscal year starting April 2023. Ahead of that, the company is setting up a prototype production line for the batteries, also in Japan. Japanese national broadcaster NHK reported earlier this month that Panasonic was looking at sites in Oklahoma and Kansas to build its new plant. The locations would benefit from being close to Tesla's new EV factory under construction in Austin, Texas, where it recently established its headquarters. The factory is scheduled to be opened on April 7. A committee in Oklahoma's Mayes County has been studying a proposal to "entice a business" to set up operations, according to a public document posted earlier this month, though it didn't identify the party. The timing and budget for Panasonic's U.S. factory may shift going forward based in part on the company's experience building 4680 manufacturing lines in Japan over the months ahead, one of the people said. Panasonic is also weighing potential plant locations based on land and labour prices and the availability of state subsidies, the person added. Panasonic has not announced plans to build a new battery factory in the U.S., a spokesperson for the Osaka-based company said Monday. Kazuo Tadanobu, chief executive officer of Panasonic's energy business, said in an interview with Bloomberg News last week that the location of any potential new factories would be evaluated based on partnerships and the economics of certain areas. Nothing has been decided, he said, adding that for the time being Panasonic is focused on building a "solid foundation" for future 4680 production at its Wakayama facility in Japan.\flI'JtLIESTIIl'SlI'il 1 [2d maths} By drawing on the relevant theory. and evidence extracted from the article. answer the following questions: According to the articte: '. .. Panasonic was looking at sites in Okla homa and Kansas to build its new plant. The locations would benet from being close to the new factory that Tesla is bringing online in Texas. where it recently established its headquarters. A committee in Oklahoma's Mayes County has been studying a proposal to \"entice a business\" to set up operations. according to a public document posted earlier this month. though it didn't identify the party." 1.1 Critically discuss the cost considerations or factors that would influence Panasonic's choice of a location for its new US factory. provide evidence from the article to buttress your discussion. {10 marks} 1.2 The article indicates that Panasonic's new US. factory will employ a competitive strategy that combines the strategy options of differentiation, low-cast leadership and response. By extracting evidence from the article, discuss each ofthese strategy options in relations to Panasonic's new U.S. factory {til marks} lKILIESTIIIL'llil 2 [Eli Marks} Panasonic's new US. factory will face a number of opportunities as well asthreats in the operating environment. In this regard. Panasonic would need to marshal its strengths and address its weaknesses by making long-temt managerial strategic decisions that confer competitive advantage in its operations. 2.1 Undertake a meaningful SWOT analysis of Panasonic's upcoming U.S.-based ev battery factory. From the article, highlight W0 [2] points each in terms of the strengths. weaknesses, opportunities, and threats associated with the new US. factory. ftti marks} 2.2 Apart from the location strategic decision, discuss any Fl'v'E [5} long-term managerial strategic decisions that Panasonic would grapple with in building the new U.S.-based electric vehicle battery factory. ttti marks}