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Mr Lloyd Machinga

Bianca Mlilo, Business Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S sole automotive and industrial batteries manufacturer, Exide Express, has acquired a consignment of machinery that will see it improving its production capacity from 20 000 batteries a month to 30 000 units.

Exide Express, which is wholly owned by Chloride Zimbabwe, is a subsidiary of Amalgamated Regional Trading Corporation.

The company’s regional sales manager for Matabeleland, Mr Lloyd Machinga, yesterday  said the new machinery is part of their nationwide expansion drive aimed at boosting the local market share.

“We’ve an expansion plan in process which is meant to grow the business from producing 20 000 batteries a month. In July, we received equipment from South Korea worth $684 000 which will increase our capacity to 30 000 batteries a month,” he said.

“The reason why we’ve grown so big is because of the investment that has been poured into the business and the fact that we’re using the latest technology from South Korea which enhances production.”

In their expansion drive, they’re targeting to open more outlets in Matabeleland where the company boasts 80 percent market share.

Mr Machinga said they had spent more than $1 million on recapitalisation and were reaping the rewards.

He said they had recorded an increase of 40 percent in the business conducted daily after relocating to a bigger outlet with a greater storage capacity.

“Our previous outlet had a warehouse storage capacity of about 1 000 batteries and the one we’re at now can hold up to 8 000 batteries at a time,” said Mr Machinga.

“The reason why we’re putting so much effort into the Matabeleland chapter is that there’s so much business here”.

He said they were looking at opportunities to grow their regional and national presence to more than the 17 branches they currently operate.

Mr Machinga said they had recently penetrated the Mozambican market in addition to Malawi and Zambia.

At present, Exide Express is on a countrywide expansion of its workspaces and products.

The firm looks forward to increasing its product range by coming up with a maintenance-free battery.  — @BiancaMlilo.