ACDelco maintenance free batteries continue their strong market growth with a sales increase of 40% in Q1 2005

Dubai, United Arab Emirates – 29 May 2005: Sales of ACDelco maintenance freee batteries has increased by 39.4% during the first quarter of 2005 compared to the same period of last year, corresponding to 432,000 units.

The announcement was made at the Automechanika Gulf exhibition currently taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre, where ACDelco is displaying a selection of its line of “all makes, all models” range of products, including the maintenance free batteries which are produced in Saudi Arabia by the Middle East Battery Company (MEBCO).

These results continue to reflect the strong position ACDelco’s maintenance-free batteries enjoy in the market, particularly after the announcement earlier this year of more than of 1.5 million maintenance-free battery sales in 2004.

The company, which has produced more than five million ACDelco batteries since it was set up as the Middle East’s first Maintenance Free battery production facility, focuses on serving all makes and all models; be they Asian, European or North American.

“These batteries are truly unique,” said John Grant, Sales & Marketing Manager - MEBCO. “They are the only batteries that are 100 per cent maintenance free, which means you install it and forget it – these batteries never need water or acid as they are sealed and cannot be tampered with. It is no wonder then that it is the largest selling battery brand in the Middle East, with a market share of 30 percent.”

“ACDelco offers a much longer life than the average battery sold in the Middle East market because it has the lowest self-discharge, water loss and failure rates,” he continued. “ACDelco batteries are engineered to withstand the harsh climate of the Middle East.”

ACDelco, which is a subsidiary of General Motors, has been an integral part of the automotive industry for almost 100 years, establishing a reputation for setting industry standards for top quality automotive parts.

Since ACDelco was launched in the Middle East in the early 1990s the brand has quickly become synonymous with quality, safety and reliability. ACDelco is already the market leader in automotive batteries, supplying a battery for every vehicle available in the Middle East.

General Motors’ aftersales business, in which ACDelco plays a significant role, posted a record year in 2004, with sales increasing by more than 46 percent.

CONTACT(S):
Saada Hammad
Communications and Public Relations Manager
General Motors Middle East
Tel (+9714) 3143350
e-mail saada.hammad@gm.com

About ACDelco
A division of General Motors Corporation, ACDelco strives to maintain the highest standards in the industry, delivering quality automotive parts for almost all makes and models of automotive vehicles.

ACDelco consistently brings new advances in parts technology, smart inventions and innovative ideas to the marketplace ahead of its competitors. Today ACDelco supplies more than 70,000 parts, including spark plugs, batteries, brakes and filters.

Every month, ACDelco ships 36,000 tons of automotive replacement parts to retail outlets and repair shops throughout the globe. Whether you fix your own vehicle or have a technician do it, ACDelco supplies the parts you need.

ACDelco’s Service Centre network spans the Middle East region, taking the stress out of vehicle maintenance and servicing for all makes and models of automotive vehicles. ACDelco Service Centres cater to all of your service needs, from regular vehicle maintenance to specialised automotive repair.