Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd. (Japan), a leader in rechargeable batteries, announced that it has tripled its monthly output capacity for rechargeable batteries for hybrid vehicles to about one million units to meet growing demand from customers such as Ford Motor Co. and Honda Motor Co. Sanyo said the move is aimed at strengthening its position as a leading maker of batteries for hybrid cars. The production boost at Sanyo's plant in Hyogo prefecture is aimed at meeting the growing demand for Escape Hybrids as well as for Honda's Accord Hybrid cars.
Sanyo and DaimlerChrysler AG's Mercedes-Benz division have also agreed to jointly develop hybrid car batteries. In addition to its direct ties with automakers, Sanyo is aiming to collaborate with some of the world's major auto parts makers. Sanyo will not deny a report that it will team up with Robert Bosch GmbH (Germany) to develop rechargeable batteries for hybrid vehicles. Working with firms like Bosch and Delphi Corp. would enable Sanyo to work smoothly with automakers that will begin to make hybrid cars as market demand increases in the coming years.
