Panasonic expects battery unit's annual profit to soar 39%

TOKYO, May 9 (Reuters) - Japan's Panasonic Holdings 6752.T forecast on Friday a 39% profit jump for its electric vehicle battery-making energy unit in the current business year, after missing its profit estimate for the year that just ended.

Operating income for the key business, which makes batteries for Tesla TSLA.O and other automakers, is expected to reach 167 billion yen ($1.15 billion) in the year to March 31, 2026, Panasonic said.

The unit made 120.2 billion yen in the year that ended in March, falling short of its own 124 billion yen forecast.

($1 = 145.2000 yen)