N E W S R E L E A S E
DRAFT
MEDIA CONTACT:
[ADD]
INVESTOR CONTACT:
[ADD]
Exide Technologies Simplifies Battery Replacement In The Latest Cars
Gennevilliers, France – September DAY, 2012 – Exide Technologies (NASDAQ:XIDE) has launched Synergy, a new programme to simplify battery replacement in the latest cars. The battery giant shared the views of its customers with many of the diagnostic equipment providers, and it has developed a new battery replacement tool of its own.
Battery replacement has become more complicated. In the latest cars, the battery is more closely tied to the electrical management system and the ECU. Some diagnostic equipment is unable to handle this advancement, and so Exide Technologies’ customers have faced increased costs and complexity.
“We wanted to protect our resellers’ existing investments in diagnostic equipment”, explained Magnus Ohlsson, VP aftermarket sales and marketing at Exide Technologies. “We met with many of the diagnostic equipment providers and explained the problems our customers have been facing.”
To address the needs of Exide Technologies’ resellers and the broader aftermarket, many of the diagnostic equipment providers are developing a software update to allow their customers to replace and manage batteries. Exide Technologies believes this will make battery replacement quicker and less costly, which will ultimately benefit consumers.
Around 10% of workshops do not own diagnostic equipment. To make it possible for them to replace batteries in the latest cars, Exide developed the BRT-12, a battery replacement tool that will be around 80% cheaper than full vehicle diagnostic equipment.
The BRT-12 handles battery replacement, clears faults from the dashboard and displays current battery details. Exide also plans to release new updates to cover more vehicles as the market develops. When new updates are released, customers can plug the tool into a PC and download free updates.
“Not all businesses need to make an investment in diagnostic equipment, so we wanted to make a tool that was right for them”, said Ohlsson. “The BRT-12 will let businesses protect their market share as the car parc evolves, and it will let them service the lucrative demographic that buys the latest cars.”
###
About Exide Technologies
EXIDE Technologies, with operations in more than 80 countries, is one of the world's largest producers and recyclers of lead-acid batteries. The Company's four global business groups -- Transportation Americas, Transportation Europe and Rest of World, Industrial Energy Americas and Industrial Energy Europe and Rest of World – provide a comprehensive range of stored electrical energy products and services for industrial and transportation applications.
Transportation markets include original-equipment and aftermarket automotive, heavy-duty truck, agricultural and marine applications, and new technologies for hybrid vehicles and automotive applications. Industrial markets include network power applications such as telecommunications systems, electric utilities, railroads, photovoltaic (solar-power related) and uninterruptible power supply (UPS), and motive-power applications including lift trucks, mining and other commercial vehicles.
Further information about Exide, including its financial results, are available at