Johnson Controls is announcing investments to grow aftermarket battery manufacturing capability in the US. The company will accelerate US$450m in investment at its existing facilities across the country to increase capacity to grow its aftermarket service and supply capabilities. This amount includes an additional $50m to increase capacity at 8 US plants by 10m batteries in 2017.

“Power demands on batteries are increasing as vehicles add more safety and convenience features, and the number of vehicles in operation continues to grow, creating more replacement opportunities,” said Joe Walicki, Johnson Controls Power Solutions president. “In the last year alone, the US battery replacement market has grown 8%.”

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Previously announced Johnson Controls’ investments break out:

  • $245m for additional Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) manufacturing capacity largely to serve the domestic market with expansion in four US facilities, including St. Joseph, Missouri and Middletown, Delaware
  • $100m to more than double AGM production in Toledo, Ohio
  • $50m to add manufacturing capacity in Middletown, Delaware 

In addition to serving aftermarket demand, fuel-efficient start-stop technology adoption in the US is accelerating. By 2020, almost half of the new vehicles built by automakers in the US will be equipped with start-stop – a function that is best enabled by AGM batteries.

“By accelerating these investments, we further increase our manufacturing capacity to serve our customers’ needs now and into the future,” said Walicki, who also praised employees who are playing an integral role in implementing these plans. “We employ more than 5,200 people in our battery business in the US, and 8 out of 10 are in highly-skilled manufacturing jobs. A strong manufacturing base is the foundation of a strong economy, and Johnson Controls will continue to invest in technologies that enable American industries in transportation and the future of energy storage.”

Automotive lead-acid ‘starter’ batteries are commonly referred to as SLI (starting, lighting, ignition) batteries which are 12V and rechargeable. According to just-auto’s research arm, QUBE, lead-acid is still, and will remain, the most dominant technology used in starter batteries for cost reasons.

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