TOKYO, July 31 (Reuters) - Japan's Panasonic Holdings ( PCRFF )

said on Wednesday the first-quarter operating profit of

its battery-making energy unit was hit by decreasing sales and

faced a decline in production at its automotive battery factory

in Japan.

Operating income for the key segment, which makes batteries

for Tesla and other automakers, posted a 27%

year-on-year decline to 21.6 billion yen ($141.97 million).

The company, however, maintained the full-year operating

profit forecast for the unit at 109 billion yen.

($1 = 152.1400 yen)