GS Yuasa Starts Manufacturing of Lead-acid Motorcycle Batteries, among the First in its Indian Facilities

GS Yuasa Corporation (Tokyo Stock Exchange: 6674; “GS Yuasa”) announces that Tata AutoComp GY Batteries Ltd. (head office: Pune, Maharashtra State, India; “TGY”), its Indian affiliate engaged in manufacturing and sales of automotive lead-acid storage battery, is constructing an assembly line for lead-acid motorcycle batteries inside its plant site in Ranjangaon in Maharashtra State.

Installation of this assembly line in the existing building has been completed by the end of 2014 and the company is currently carrying out mass production trial of the line. The trial production is expected to be over in March and the company aims to start mass production in April. The initial production capacity of the line is expected to be 1.2 million units per year, and the total investment is about 200 million yen.

Compared with 8.7 million vehicles in 2009, India’s motorcycle sales has nearly doubled to 16 million vehicles in 2014, making it the second largest motorcycle market, next only to China. Given the large population, the country’s motorcycle market is expected to expand and demand for new vehicle and replacement lead-acid storage batteries is also expected to further increase. The company plans to expand production in the future to respond to the strong demand in India by adding a second assembly line within 2016, which will give it a production capacity of 2.4 million units per year, double the initial capacity.

TGY has been importing lead-acid motorcycle batteries from its affiliated companies in ASEAN and selling them. In order to respond to this active demand in India, the company aims to start domestic production and expand its sales significantly. It will initially start with sales of replacement lead-acid storage batteries and plans to start sales for new vehicles in 2016.

■2. Photograph of the TGY plant

■3. Map of Pune, Maharashtra, where TGY is located