TACO and GS Yuasa International Ltd enter into a joint venture agreement for automotive batteries

6 February 2006

Tata AutoComp Systems Limited (TACO), one of India's largest and fastest growing auto component groups and GS Yuasa International Ltd (GYIN), Japan, Asia's largest automotive battery manufacturer today announced a 50:50 joint venture partnership to form Tata AutoComp GY Batteries Pvt Ltd.

The newly formed joint venture will manufacture state-of-the-art automotive batteries for OEMs and the retail market in India. The manufacturing facility would be near Pune.

The company will start its operation with the entire range of four wheeler automotive batteries and will also set up a national level sales, service and distribution network.

Speaking on the occasion Mr Shyamendra Narain, Chief Executive Officer, said, "Through this joint venture between TACO and GYIN, our customers will get access to world class batteries, which will be developed to perform in demanding local usage conditions and manufactured to global quality standards, in a modern environment friendly plant."

About Tata AutoComp Systems Limited (TACO)
Tata AutoComp Systems Limited (TACO), India, promoted by the Tata Group, provides products and services in the area of auto components to global automotive customers including Ashok Leyland, DaimlerChrysler, Fiat, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, John Deere, Mahindra and Mahindra, Piaggio, Tata Motors, Toyota, Volvo and VW. TACO has own capabilities in automotive interiors, plastics, stamping and assemblies, engineering, and supply chain management. The company also has17 joint ventures in partnership with leading companies from the global auto component industry.

With 23 facilities, including manufacturing plants, four engineering centres and three export-oriented units, TACO is rapidly expanding its business in a host of areas in auto components, with partners like Johnson Controls, Faurecia, Yazaki Corporation, T.Rad, Visteon, Knorr Bremse, Ficosa, Yutaka Giken, Sungwoo Hitech, Owens Corning, Menzolit Fibron, MobiApps Holdings, Hendrickson, Nifco, Stadco, Chuo Springs, and now GYIN. Currently, the TACO group designs and manufactures a wide variety of components including seating systems, plastic interior and exterior parts, wiring harnesses, aluminium radiators, lighting systems, engine induction systems, brake discs and braking systems, rear view mirrors, control cables, exhaust systems, sheet metal assemblies, SMC parts, vehicle tracking systems, suspensions, coil springs and now automotive batteries.

About GS Yuasa Corporation (GYC)
GYIN is a subsidiary of GS Yuasa Corporation (GYC). GYC has a turnover of US$ 2.2 billion and its business domains include automotive, industrial, lighting, special tools, consumer and others. GYIN is globally number one in two wheeler batteries and number one in Asia for automotive batteries. It operates 28 plants in 14 countries and has a very strong focus on Asian market with expertise to develop batteries suitable for tropical regions. Its key OE customers include BMW, Daihatsu, Daimler Chrysler, GM, Honda, Kawasaki, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Toyota, and Yamaha. It has the entire range of automotive battery technologies and its state of the art R&D centre is continuously engaged in developing advanced battery technologies for future.