Inci GS Yuasa lays foundations for battery plant

Inci GS Yuasa, the subsidiary of Inci Holding and GS Yuasa, last week laid the foundations for a new battery plant in Manisa at a ceremony attended by Turkish and Japanese partners.

The new battery factory, which represents an investment of TL 120 million, will be built on an area of 18,000 square meters. Inci GS Yuasa, whose total production area will reach 60,000 square meters, will increase its battery production capacity from 5 million to 7 million – and the new factory will lead to a 25% increase in employment for Inci GS Yuasa.

Inci GS Yuasa, whose investment will reach TL 200 million within three years of its partnership, aims to reach its TL 250 million investment target by 2020. The new battery plant in Manisa Industrial Park is scheduled to begin production in October 2018.

Will export to 80 countries

Inci Holding Chairman Nese Gok said the partnership signed two years ago had grown stronger with the new battery plant project. Upon completion, Turkish goods will be exported to at least 80 countries from the Manisa factory, which will be equipped with the latest technology. “This investment is the concrete expression of our determination to produce for our country, our love for these lands, our company culture and our future goals,” said Gok.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, GS Yuasa Vice President Akio Furukawa said: “Our investment in Turkey will make us a major force in the region and will be an important milestone for us.” He said the company is planning to use the latest technology to produce batteries for the startstop and automotive industry (OEM), which is expected to see an increase in worldwide demand. “The plant is planned as a new, advanced technology factory that not only improves battery performance and quality, but also safety in the production process and emphasizes the protection of the surrounding environment,” he added.

Inc targets 30% market share

Inci GS Yuasa Deputy Director Yuji Hashimotoise said there are plans to expand local and export networks by producing advanced technology products. “With Inci Holding’s sales network and productivity combined with GS Yuasa’s long-life battery technology, we aim to reach a market share of around 30% in Turkey as Inci GS Yuasa,” he said.

Stating that the companies signed a partnership agreement two years ago with the aim of “investing TL 250 million in five years,” Cihan Elbirlik, executive board director at Inci GS Yuasa, said:

“We aim to increase our sales revenue by two-and-a-half times and our export sales revenue by three times by 2021 through our total production. We want to produce one out of every four automotive batteries sold in Turkey and one in every three industrial batteries.”