A new joint venture company between GS Yuasa and Honda for the manufacturing, sales and R&D of lithium-ion batteries for hybrid vehicles, held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction of its Osadano Plant in Fukuchiyama, Kyoto.

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by approximately 100 dignitaries and guests, including Keiji Yamada, the governor of Kyoto prefecture and Masaji Matsuyama, the mayor of Fukuchiyama city, as well as Makoto Yoda, president and CEO of GS Yuasa Corporation, Takeo Fukui, president and CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd., and Masahiko Oshitani, president and CEO of Blue Energy Co., Ltd. The batteries will undoubtedly be used in new upcoming plug-in Hybrid models in Japan and the United States.
The new plant is scheduled to begin production sometime around fall 2010.