Sanyo increase Hybrid NiMH Battery output 250% to meet demand

Sanyo Electric Co. said Friday that it has revised up its production plans for nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries for hybrid cars, citing growing demand for these vehicles. In fiscal 2008, Sanyo made such batteries for hybrid cars at a rate of one million units a month.

When it announced its business results in mid-May, the company said it would boost production by 150 per cent and make 2.5 million units a month in fiscal 2009. But now, Sanyo has decided to boost production by 250 per cent to a monthly rate of 3.5 million batteries in fiscal 2009.

It said it will invest several billion yen to expand production lines at its Sumoto plant, in Hyogo Prefecture, which is the only plant where it makes NiMH batteries for hybrid cars.

Sanyo, which already supplies NiMH batteries to Honda Motor Co. and U.S. firm Ford Motor Co., is now looking to win business from other automakers.

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