Japan’s leading automotive battery maker GS Yuasa International has teamed up with its local partner to enter the Bangladesh market.
GS Yuasa, the third largest manufacturer of automobile and motorcycle batteries in the world, will start production in January at a plant of Japan SolarTech (Bangladesh), a Chittagong-based joint venture.
Japan SolarTech has invested $15 million to set up the plant with a monthly production capacity of 30,000 pieces of automotive batteries. GS Yuasa will provide technical assistance.
“It is a great opportunity for us to be introducing the Japanese batteries to this market,” said Riku Imai, market development manager at the international business unit of GS Yuasa.
Yuasa is going to be the first Japanese battery to be made in Bangladesh, where the use of vehicles is growing. There is an annual demand for 1.8 million pieces of batteries in Bangladesh.
“There are many Japanese cars plying the streets of Bangladesh. But there is hardly any Japanese battery available here,” said Riku, sharing the company’s business plan with reporters in Dhaka on Saturday.
The Yuasa batteries are tested, certified and recommended by renowned carmakers — Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda and Mitsubishi, he said.
“The Asian market is the most important market for us, as GS Yuasa is the top market player in the region.
Bangladesh is also a key market,” he said.
