SoftBank Corp., the mobile-services arm of SoftBank Group, says it plans to begin manufacturing large-scale battery cells and related storage systems to meet rising electricity demand tied to AI data centers. The company will start production at its Sakai, Osaka site, a facility previously associated with Sharp, with output targeted at about one gigawatt-hour per year. SoftBank is partnering with South Korea-based battery company Cosmos Lab and AI firm DeltaX, according to multiple reports. The company says manufacturing will begin in the fiscal year starting next April. It also indicates an expansion of its battery technology over time, including the use of zinc-halide chemistry planned for 2027, following an initial phase using earlier chemistry. Bloomberg additionally frames the effort as large-scale cell manufacturing focused on power supply for AI services. Collectively, the outlets describe a Japan-based battery venture aimed at scaling storage capacity alongside AI infrastructure needs, with partners contributing battery and technology expertise.