TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese automaker Mazda Motor ( MZDAF ) and the energy unit of Panasonic Holdings ( PCRFF ) said on Friday they have signed an automotive battery supply agreement.

The deal comes out of talks about a battery supply partnership for electric vehicles that Mazda ( MZDAF ) and Panasonic Energy started in June last year. Panasonic Energy also makes batteries for Tesla.

Mazda ( MZDAF ) and Panasonic Energy said in a joint statement they will disclose at an appropriate time details of the partnership for the supply of cylindrical automotive lithium-ion batteries.

The agreement is likely to help Mazda ( MZDAF ) step up production of EVs as part of a 1.5 trillion-yen ($9.9 billion) spending plan it unveiled in late 2022.

Panasonic Energy has also been in talks with Japanese automaker Subaru to set up a separate partnership for the supply of cylindrical automotive lithium-ion batteries.

($1 = 151.4100 yen)