Johnson Controls to double N. American AGM battery capacity by 2020 (Video)

Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Johnson Controls, the world's largest manufacturer of absorbent glass mat (AGM) batteries, is investing $245 million between 2016 and 2020 to double AGM production capacity in North America.

"Due to increasing power needs for vehicle accessories and safety functions, along with changing environmental standards, automotive batteries play an increasingly important role in today's vehicles," says Joe Walicki, president, Johnson Controls Power Solutions.

AGM batteries manufactured by Johnson Controls are engineered for increasing vehicle demands, including:

• Starting power, even at low states of charge
• Reliability in harsh weather and extreme conditions
• Durability in high-load applications

"Our customers face increasing demand for replacement batteries that provide superior power, reliability and performance for today's vehicles," says Dan Autey, vice president and general manager, U.S. and Canada Aftermarket, Johnson Controls Power Solutions.

In addition to growing consumer demand for replacement batteries, automakers depend on AGM technology to help improve fuel efficiency up to 5% in vehicles with start-stop systems. The number of cars built in North America with start-stop systems will approach 50% in 2020 due to increasingly stringent environmental regulations.

"Between 2015 and 2020, Johnson Controls will invest, in total, more than $780 million globally to increase our AGM manufacturing capacity," says Walicki. "Johnson Controls is the leader in battery manufacturing and we are committed to investing in our factories, our employees and our customers, to ensure that we remain the leader when it comes to innovative technology, quality products and strong customer partnerships."

Source: Johnson Controls