Johnson Controls Launches VARTA Battery Brand Line in China

Johnson Controls said it officially launched its VARTA automotive battery brand in China, following the opening last week of the company's flagship VARTA store in Henan Province's Zhengzhou city in partnership with a long-standing distributor. Last year, Johnson Controls acquired Delphi's global battery business and since June 30 this year the company has completely replaced all Delphi branded batteries with ones that carry the VARTA brand name, the company said.

From AFX News Limited

BEIJING — Johnson Controls said it officially launched its VARTA automotive battery brand in China, following the opening last week of the company’s flagship VARTA store in Henan Province’s Zhengzhou city in partnership with a long-standing distributor.

Last year, Johnson Controls acquired Delphi’s global battery business and since June 30 this year the company has completely replaced all Delphi branded batteries with ones that carry the VARTA brand name, the company said.

The Fortune 500 company also reiterated its intentions to develop more advanced technology in future.

"For hybrid vehicle powertrains, we believe lithium-ion batteries are the way of the future and we have the industry’s first development order for lithium ion for a hybrid electric vehicle application," vice president and general manager of the company’s Asia Pacific for power solutions division said in the statement.

"We will bring these leading technologies and products to China in the near future," he added.

The company has no intention of relocating production for other markets to China, Gibbs told XFN-ASIA on the sidelines of a conference, citing high transportation costs.