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

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.