Johnson Controls, the world’s largest supplier of automotive batteries, is to invest US$118m to build a plant in Chongqing, its third in China. The US-based company has one existing plant in Shanghai and another due to open next year in Changxing, elsewhere in Shanghai municipality.

The 30,000 sq metre plant in Fuling, a district in central Chongqing municipality, will produce automotive lead-acid batteries. It will have the capacity to make 6m units a year, with production expected to start in January 2012.

“Motorcycles and cars have become Chongqing’s leading industry, with 21 automakers located there alone,” said Shu Yang, vice president and general manager for Johnson Controls Power Solutions in the Asia-Pacific.