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The Journey

The Journey

Since 1947, discover our history, our products, our partnerships, our new manufacturing facilities, our commitment to society and its well-being and relive an incredible journey of technological innovation and adventure that powers and moves India on Exide.

The Invention

After Alessandro Volta successfully generated electrical current from chemical reactions in 1800 A.D., Raymond Gaston invented the lead acid battery in 1860. However, it had many limitations, and it took another 20 years before a practical battery was developed using a paste of lead oxide as active material.

In India, as in many other erstwhile colonies of Great Britain, Exide batteries were imported for many years before the Chloride Electrical Storage Company (CESCO) was finally set up in 1920. It started only as an assembling and manufacturing facility and the first manufacturing unit was set up in Shamnagar, West Bengal in 1947. This marked the momentous entry of Associated Battery Makers Eastern Limited (ABMEL) in the Indian industrial scenario.
The Beginning

For road vehicles, ABMEL's principle brands were Exide and Dagenite (used by Rolls Royce) but the Company was changing its course on other tracks too. Exide "Iron Clad" batteries powered the Railways and in 1963, following the Chinese aggression, the company doubled its production of special defence batteries. The same year saw the manufacture of large stationery batteries for railway track electrification.

The rapid rate of expansion is seen with the establishment of a second factory in 1969 at Chinchwad, Maharashtra to cater to the growing demand for automobile batteries and was strategically established near automobile Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).
The Journey

Over the past 75 years, the company has grown steadily, modernized its manufacturing processes and taken initiatives on the service front. Constant innovations have helped Exide to produce the world's largest range of industrial batteries extending from 2.5 Ah to 20,600 Ah and covering various technology configurations.

This timeline looks at the history of our company, from 1916 to the present day. Exide’s extraordinary journey over the past 75 years showcases the wide product range launches, plant openings, new businesses, brand evolutions, subsidiaries, mergers, partnerships and CSR activities all orchestrated through charismatic leaders and employees through game-changing innovations.

1947
First factory established in Shamnagar on 31st January 1947. Two Indian Companies incorporated in India to take over the business operations of CESCO, India.
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1969
Second factory set up in Chinchwad Pune.
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1972
Associated Battery Makers (Easter) Limited renamed as Chloride India Limited on 2nd August 1972.

1973
Chloride India Limited introduces India’s first polypropylene batteries in India.

1976
The Research and Development Centre was set up in Calcutta.
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1981
Third factory established in Haldia, West Bengal.
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1983
Exide becomes the first indigenous original equipment in a Maruti 800. Till then Maruti came with 100 per cent imported components.
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1988
Chloride India Limited is renamed as Chloride Industries Limited on 12th October 1988.

1995
Chloride Industries Limited renamed as Exide Industries Limited on 25th August 1995.

1997
Fourth factory set up in Hosur Tamil Nadu
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1998
Takeover of the industrial undertakings of Standard Batteries Limited as a going concern.
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2000
100% acquisition of CBSEA, Singapore and 49% acquisition of ABM (Ceylon) Sri Lanka.
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2003
Commissioning of plant at Bawal Haryana and New JV company in UK ESPEX formed with 51% of EIL holdings.
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2004
Increased ABM (Ceylon) holding to 60%

2007
Increased shareholding to 100% in Chloride Power Systems & Solutions Limited and 100% acquisition of Chloride Metals Limited.

2008
51% acquisition of Chloride Alloys India Limited and Export Plant set up in Haldia.
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2010
Increased shareholding to 100% in Chloride Alloys India Limited and Ahmednagar facility for MC batteries commenced production.

2011
Acquisition of First Home UPS manufacturing facility at Roorkee.

2012
Acquisition of Second Home UPS manufacturing facility at Haridwar and Espex Batteries UK, became wholly owned subsidiary.

2017
20-year legal battle with Exide Technologies comes to an end as the US company gives up its claim on the right to use the trade mark ‘Exide’ in India in favour of Exide Industries Limited
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2018
Exide enters the Lithium-ion batteries industry through its Joint Venture with Leclanche SA and Exide purchases assets of Tudor India Limited – a factory near Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
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2022
2022 – Exide Industries Limited celebrates 75 years of its corporate existence in India.
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