Base Corporation on Thursday said it would set up Asia's biggest battery plant at Hosur in Tamil Nadu with an investment of Rs.432 crore that will become operational in 2013.
The company is also looking at developing technologically advanced batteries as the Indian automotive sector is looking at developing electric and hybrid vehicles.
“The Hosur plant, where we are making strategic investments keeping future requirements in mind, will have an initial installed capacity of 2.5 lakh units a month that will be expanded to 3.25 lakh units. The new plant will roll out entire range of batteries such as automotive, inverters, UPS and generators,” Base Corporation Chief Operating Officer Aditya Arora told journalists here after announcing the company's association with the forthcoming Formula 1 racing in India by providing batteries to the cars of Hispania Racing Team (HRT), driven by Narain Karthikeyan.
Stating that the Hosur facility would also have an in-house testing track, Mr. Arora said it could be used by various automobile manufacturers in India to improve their performance and efficiencies.
Base Corporation also unveiled India's first Formula One race car battery in association with HRT, while the company is looking at similar tie-ups with other racing teams.
The battery has been developed with research and development (R&D) fund worth $3 million.
About exports, Mr. Arora said they were looking at selling their products in Africa and the Middle East after the Hosur facility started producing batteries.
The company, which has a plant in Solan (Himachal Pradesh), clocked a turnover of Rs.612 crore last fiscal.
