Our History

With a history spanning over 80 years, Century Batteries is Australia's oldest battery manufacturer and has been a household name with Australia's motoring public since the company's foundation in 1928.

To several generations of motorists, the name 'Century' has been synonymous with quality and value in automotive batteries. Highlights of Century Batteries' development over the past seven decades include:

1928

Established in Alexandria, Sydney, to produce battery covers, containers, separators and batteries for the Sydney Market.

1930

Opened sales subsidiary in Victoria.

1932

Listed on Sydney Stock Exchange.

1956

Began to supply Original Equipment batteries to Chrysler.

1959

Established in Townsville and Adelaide.

1963

Established manufacturing plant at Footscray in Melbourne.

1967

Established in Western Australia.

1969

Established first polypropylene battery assembly operation in Australia.

1971

Established battery manufacturing plant at Wacol in Queensland.

1974

Established battery factory in Indonesia with minor shareholding.

1978

Taken over by Repco Limited.

1982

Repco/Century took over manufacturing facilities of Lucas Industries.
Expanded production to 4,000 units per day in three factories
Established Industrial Battery Division.
Signed Technical Agreement with Japan Storage Battery Company Contracted to supply Ford, General Motors, Nissan and Toyota.

1984

Closed Alexandria and Footscray plants.
Moved Head Office to Bankstown.
Began to import batteries from overseas.

1986

Established Agency concept throughout Australia.
Expanded Wacol production to 1,800 batteries per day.
Obtained Besco Batteries business.

1987

Purchased Carole Park property.
Moved Head Office to Carole Park and closed National Warehouse in Sydney.

1988

Moved Wacol plant to Carole Park with subsequent increase in production to 3,500 units per day.
Joint venture formed between Yuasa Batteries Co Ltd of Japan and PT Sapta Panji Manggala of Indonesia.

1989

Commenced Original Equipment supply to Toyota.

1994

Carole Park factory gained ISO 9001 accreditation.

1995

Purchased Besco Batteries and incorporated distribution network in Century Yuasa Batteries' operation.

1998

Purchased Manufacturing Plant in Auckland, New Zealand.
Commenced Original Equipment supply to GMH for export Holden Commodores and Australian Police Vehicles
Carole Park factory gained QS 9001 accreditation.

1999

Commenced Original Equipment supply to GMH for all domestic Holden Utilities.

2002

Yuasa Corporation merged with Japan Storage Company to form GS Yuasa.
Century Batteries begins manufacturing expanded plate technology.

2004

Carole Park factory gained ISO 14001 accreditation.

2005

In April our new Corporate Identity was officially launched, namely 'Century Yuasa'.

2006

Closed Auckland manufacturing plant.

2007

Commenced Original Equipment and Aftermarket supply to Ford.

2009

Battery Recycling Centres Launched into market.

2011

Revolutionary ‘SmartDrive™’ battery technology launched into Automotive market.
Century Batteries brand reposition launched.