Who Makes Exide Batteries

Exide batteries are made by Exide Technologies, a lead acid battery manufacturer headquartered in Milton, Georgia, with roots going back to 1888 when the company was founded in Philadelphia as the Electric Storage Battery Company.

Exide Technologies operates its own manufacturing plants across the United States and internationally, producing automotive, marine, and industrial batteries under the Exide name.

Exide is one of the oldest battery makers in the world still operating today, and the company builds batteries for consumer, commercial, and industrial customers rather than licensing its name out to a separate manufacturer, which sets it apart from private label automotive battery brands that rely on outside suppliers.

The History Of Exide Technologies

The Electric Storage Battery Company began producing lead acid batteries in 1888 and later adopted the Exide name, a shortened form of Excellent Oxide, referring to the lead oxide used in battery plates.

Over the following century the company grew into a major global battery manufacturer, expanding through acquisitions and organic growth into automotive, industrial, and network power markets.

Exide Technologies went through a Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring completed in 2015, emerging as a leaner private company.

In 2020 the companys global operations were sold to a European investment group, and Exide has continued to operate its American automotive and industrial battery business under the Exide name from its Georgia headquarters.

Exide Manufacturing Facilities

Exide operates lead acid battery manufacturing and recycling plants in multiple states, including facilities dedicated to producing starting, lighting, and ignition batteries for cars and trucks as well as deep cycle batteries for marine and recreational use.

Like other major lead acid battery makers, Exide runs its own lead recycling operations to reclaim materials from spent batteries and feed them back into new battery production.

Lead acid battery recycling rates in the United States remain among the highest of any consumer product category, a point regularly highlighted by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Exide Battery Product Lines

Exide sells automotive starting batteries, AGM battery models for vehicles with heavier electrical demands, marine battery and deep cycle batteries for boats and RVs, and industrial batteries used in forklifts, backup power systems, and telecommunications equipment.

The Exide Edge line focuses on AGM technology aimed at vehicles with stop start systems, while standard flooded batteries cover everyday passenger cars.

Reserve capacity and cold cranking amp ratings on Exide batteries follow the same industry standard testing methods used across the automotive battery market, which makes it straightforward to compare an Exide model against a competing brand using the numbers printed on the case rather than marketing claims alone.

Exide batteries are sold both under its own brand name at auto parts retailers and, in some cases, supplied to other companies as private label automotive batteries, a common practice among large scale lead acid manufacturers.

Exide Technologies As A Public Company

Exide Technologies was previously a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange before its 2015 bankruptcy reorganization.

Investors researching the companys prior stock history can find historical filings through the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission EDGAR database, though todays American Exide operations are held privately rather than trading on public markets, though independent reporting on the industry is available through outlets such as Reuters.

Where Exide Batteries Are Sold

Exide batteries are available through auto parts retailers, marine and RV dealers, and industrial equipment suppliers across the United States.

Availability of specific models varies by region and retailer, so checking with a local auto parts store or dealer network is the most reliable way to confirm current stock and pricing before making a purchase.

Buyers comparing prices often find that AGM models cost noticeably more than standard flooded batteries, reflecting the added materials and manufacturing steps needed to build a sealed, spill resistant design.

Quality And Trustworthiness Of Exide Batteries

Exide Technologies manufacturing pedigree stretches back more than 135 years, making it one of the most established lead acid battery makers still producing batteries today.

Because Exide builds its own batteries rather than relying entirely on outside contract manufacturers, the company has direct control over quality standards across its automotive, marine, and industrial lines.

This long operating history, combined with vertically integrated lead recycling, gives Exide batteries a solid reputation among mechanics and battery retailers, even though the company has gone through corporate restructuring in recent years.

The bankruptcy process itself was a financial restructuring rather than a shutdown of manufacturing operations, and Exide continued producing batteries throughout, which is an important distinction for customers concerned about long term parts and warranty support.

Exide Vs Other Automotive Battery Brands

Compared to brands like Duralast and Interstate, which are built by contract manufacturers such as Clarios and Johnson Controls respectively, Exide stands out by manufacturing its own batteries in house.

This does not necessarily make Exide batteries superior in raw performance, but it does mean the Exide name reflects the same company that engineers and builds the battery, rather than a licensed brand applied to another manufacturers product.

For shoppers, this mostly affects warranty structure and where replacement parts or exchanges happen, since Exide handles its own manufacturing and warranty claims directly rather than routing them through a separate licensing partner.

Frequently Asked Questions About Who Makes Exide Batteries

Is Exide still in business?

Yes.

Exide Technologies continues to operate its American automotive, marine, and industrial battery business from its Georgia headquarters, following a 2015 bankruptcy restructuring and a 2020 sale of its global operations.

Are Exide batteries made in the USA?

Exide operates manufacturing facilities in the United States that produce automotive and industrial batteries, though the company also has international operations depending on the specific product and market.

Does Exide make marine batteries?

Yes.

Exide produces marine battery and deep cycle battery models designed for boats, RVs, and other recreational vehicles, in addition to its automotive and industrial lineup.

What does the name Exide mean?

Exide is a shortened form of Excellent Oxide, a reference to the lead oxide material used in the companys battery plates since its founding in 1888, and the name has remained in continuous use across more than a century of ownership changes and corporate restructuring.