Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid designed for sale in the U.S. will be unveiled at the 2013 New York International Auto Show.

Osaka, Japan - Panasonic Corporation today announced that it will supply nickel metal

hydride (Ni-MH) battery systems for Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.'s first-ever hybrid electric
vehicle (HEV). The Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid designed for sale in the U.S. will be
unveiled at the 2013 New York International Auto Show (Press Days: March 27 and 28;
Public Days: March 29 through April 7, 2013). The car will go on sale in the U.S. in autumn
this year.

With a rising environmental consciousness, demand for rechargeable batteries for
eco-friendly vehicles is expected to grow rapidly. Panasonic is building up its battery
business to meet such demand. The company is already supplying Ni-MH battery cells and
systems for hybrid electric vehicles to a growing number of automotive manufactuers around
the world, as well as lithium-ion battery cells and systems for hybrids, plug-in hybrids and
electric vehicles.

Panasonic started developing Ni-MH battery cells for HEVs in 1997 and has been mass
producing them since 2004. Panasonic's Ni-MH battery cells are durable and able to
maintain a high charging/discharging capacity over an extended period of time, thanks to the
company's unique battery manufacturing technologies, including polar plate sintering
technology*1. Panasonic also has many years of experience in building battery systems, such
as those incorporating battery cells with a control unit that optimizes the performance of each
battery cell.

Recognizing the performance of Panasonic's battery cells and systems as well as its good
track record in the market, Fuji Heavy Industries has selected Panasonic as the battery
system supplier for the first HEV model of the Subaru brand.

Panasonic will continue to accelerate the development and commercialization of high
performance battery cells and systems to expand its eco-car battery business on a global
scale.

*1 Technology involving firing of metal nickel powder at high temperatures for manufacturing rigid,
porous nickel substrate.

About Panasonic

Panasonic Corporation is a worldwide leader in the development and manufacture of
electronic products in three business fields, consumer, components & devices, and solutions.
Based in Osaka, Japan, the company recorded consolidated net sales of 7.85 trillion yen for
the year ended March 31, 2012. Panasonic's stock is listed on the Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya
and New York (NYSE:PC) Stock Exchanges. The company has the vision of becoming the
No. 1 Green Innovation Company in the Electronics Industry by the 100th year of its founding
in 2018. For more information on Panasonic, its brand and commitment to sustainability, visit
the company's website at http://panasonic.net/.