Sony allots millions to beef up Li-ion battery production

Sony Corp. will invest approximately 40 billion yen (about $371 million) towards strengthening its Li-ion battery production operations. This is the first phase of investment in Li-ion batteries that Sony is undertaking as part of efforts to reinforce core areas of its component and semiconductor business over the next three years.

The investment will be used to construct new production facilities as well as enhance existing lines at Motomiya Technology Center and Tochigi Technology Center of Sony Energy Device Corp., Sony's Li-ion battery production sites in Japan. Also expanding its Li-ion battery production in Singapore and China, Sony's monthly production capacity is expected to increase from the current level of 41 million cells per month to 74 million cells in 2010.