Panasonic Corp , the world’s top plasma TV maker, is betting on a green future

of solar power and hybrid cars as it negotiates a price for rival Sanyo Electric Co. that analysts say could be up to $8.7 billion.

A key driver for Panasonic is Sanyo’s auto batteries business that powers increasingly popular hybrid and electric vehicles, but it would also secure a foothold in the solar cell industry, another with strong growth potential amid concern about global climate change.

Sanyo is the world’s seventh-largest solar cell maker and competes with bigger rivals such as Germany’s Q-Cells.

Source [ Reuters ]