Grids

GS Yuasa plans to boost production of lithium-ion batteries 10-fold

GS Yuasa plans to boost production of battery cells to equip 9,000 electric vehicles in the year ending March 2011 from 2,000 electric cars this fiscal year and raise it to about 20,000 the following year.

The company, which has partnerships with Honda Motor Co. and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. to make lithium-ion power cells for electric vehicles, competes against Osaka- based Sanyo Electric Corp. to win automakers as clients. Mitsubishi Motors raised its sales target for the i-MiEV electric car to 9,000 units from 8,500 for next fiscal year.

“We’re getting very strong signals of orders from carmakers including Mitsubishi Motors,” Yoda, 60, said in Kyoto, western Japan, where the company is based. “How much we can boost production will be crucial for our fiscal year 2010.”

GS Yuasa Corporation is a holding company jointly established in April 2004 by Japan Storage Battery Co., Ltd. and Yuasa Corporation with the aim of meeting the world’s ever expanding demands and expectations for electrical energy.

GS Yuasa Group is comprised of GS Yuasa Corporation with 81 subsidiaries and 42 affiliated companies, and our business includes the manufacture and supply of batteries, power supply systems, lighting equipment, specialty other electrical equipment. In order to allow to offer products and services that best meet the needs of their customers around the world, they are continually making modifications and improvements to their R&D, manufacturing, and distribution systems, ensuring that they have a global focus.

www.gs-yuasa.com/us/