Toyota is one of the largest, if not the largest auto manufacturers in the world. In 2020, it had a global market share of 8.5%, beating even Volkswagen by 1%. That amounts to close to a million vehicles annually.
All of those vehicles come out of the factory equipped with Toyota’s OEM TrueStart batteries, but their origin is somewhat of a mystery.
In this article, we’ll uncover potential manufacturers, but keep in mind that most of it will remain a theory, as there’s no publicly available proof.
Toyota True Start batteries are most likely made by Exide, one of the leading corporations in lead-acid battery production. Other sources claim that the batteries are also made by Clarios, another industry giant.
The problem with finding the real answer is Toyota’s focus on solid-state, hybrid batteries, which take all the attention and make it near-impossible to find out who’s making the standard, lead-acid batteries.
Panasonic and Toyota made a partnership to create hybrid batteries but as Panasonic also makes lead-acid batteries, they’re also a possible answer.
To reiterate the point made in the introduction – we don’t know for sure. The following companies are the most probable suppliers, sorted from the most to least likely:
To deliver the most useful information possible, I’ll cover the background of the four companies and explain why they could be a potential supplier.
Exide Industries Limited, now known as Exide Technologies is a multinational storage battery manufacturer with headquarters in Milton, Georgia, U.S. The company has a 130-year rich history traced all the way back to W.W. Gibbs Electric Storage Battery company, founded in 1888.
Today, Exide Batteries & Exide Technologies supplies several car manufacturers with OEM batteries and has a history of making Bosch car batteries.
Their background and known deals with Toyota are the primary reason why Exide is considered the main supplier of Toyota’s TrueStart batteries.
We’ve talked about Clarios and its predecessor company in detail when we reviewed the Champion batteries. The company may not ring a bell, but it’s responsible for producing more than 150 million batteries every year. That amounts to 1/3 of global battery production!
Clarios was founded/branded in 2019 after Brookfield Business Partners bought out the Power Solutions subsidiary of Johnson Controls, a name you may be familiar with.
The second reason for the relative anonymity is because Clarios focuses on making batteries for others – VARTA, OPTIMA, Delkor, Heliar, and several others.
A brief excerpt states that Brookfield Business Partners not only bought the Power Solutions but retained and continued its operation. As Power Solutions supplied BMW, and Toyota with car batteries, it’s entirely possible that they’re still a major supplier.
Panasonic is best known for its electrical appliances, but it’s actually one of the largest car battery manufacturers in the world. The company makes five types of car batteries:
I have not found any official information regarding a collaboration between Panasonic and Toyota in regards to lead-acid car batteries, but the two companies had worked on hybrid batteries in the past.
Considering that connection and that both companies are based in Japan, it’s not unreasonable to assume that some Toyota TrueStart batteries are made by Panasonic.
GS Yuasa Corporation is a Japanese company that specializes in the production of lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries. Just like Panasonic, the connection with Toyota exists through numerous collaborations on the hybrid-battery technology.
GS Yuasa has some operations in the US in the Yuasa Battery Inc and Yuasa-Exide Inc. Yuasa Battery Inc. focuses on the production of motorcycle, scooter, ATV, UTV, and watercraft batteries, while Yuasa-Exide Inc. was bought out by Enersys, a massive international corporation.
Based on what we’ve covered in the previous sections, we can draw some conclusions about who makes Toyota’s True Start batteries:
Toyota TrueStart batteries are what we considered OE (Original Equipment) and they’re built by either Clarios or Exide, making them the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer).
The Toyota TrueStart battery uses the standard lead-acid technology, while the True-2 makes use of the AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) to increase durability and protection against vibrations.
The numbers such as 24F, 27F, and others represent group sizes that determine whether the battery will fit inside the engine bay.
The TrueStart lineup has AGM batteries, named True-2. The regular TrueStart name is used for the standard batteries.
Toyota does not use independent brands like Bosch, OPTIMA, or VARTA, and instead brands their own TrueStart OE battery line.
Toyota OE batteries are very good and run reliably for years as long as you’re not in one of the hotter states. Even then, the lengthy warranty period should keep you covered in case the battery fails.
The cost of Toyota batteries depends on the capacity and type – whether it’s the standard TrueStart or the AGM True-2. The average cost is around $150, with the prices ranging from $100 to $250.
True Start batteries come with an 84-month (7 years) warranty, which is one of the best policies in the business. During the first 2 years, the replacement is 100% free, and if you end up requiring a tow because of the battery failure, the Toyota dealership should cover the cost (special terms apply).
Batteries degrade over time, which is normal, so Toyota offers a prorated warranty from years 3 through 7 where the capacity of the battery is monitored and compared to the standards. The True-2 AGM batteries come with a 60-month warranty.
AGM battery is an advanced version of the lead-acid battery. It is more resistant to vibrations, and because it’s fully sealed, it cannot spill and requires no maintenance. The AGM stands for Absorbent Glass Mat.
The AGM batteries are preferred for vehicles with start-stop technology, where frequent engine starts can be taxing on the standard battery.
Johnson Controls has left the battery production business in 2019 after the division was sold to Brookfield Business Partners and rebranded into Clarios. The company in its current state makes VARTA, OPTIMA, Heliar, LTH, Delkor, as well as batteries for Walmart, Carquest, Auto Zone, Sears, and several auto manufacturers.
Toyota Prius needs an AGM battery with a minimum 46 Ah capacity and battery size S46B24R.
The S46B24R stands for battery size and is a code you should keep in mind when purchasing a replacement. It’s possible that you’ll find a smaller battery with the same specs, which is fine, but an oversized battery won’t fit in the designated slot.
While we’re on the topic, make sure to check the polarity of your existing battery – which way the negative and positive terminals are facing. Batteries cables are not interchangeable or reversible so you have to get the polarity right.
To do so, simply inspect the battery inside your vehicle, or just the cables if the battery is already out.
Black cable connects to negative, while the red cable connects to ground. The terminals (metal knobs) on the battery are always closer to the front of the vehicle, so by knowing all of that, you can buy a battery without fail.
Toyota Corolla needs a fairly small battery, but they’re not necessarily cheap. Something like the Econocraft brand can cost just $70 but I wouldn’t put that into my vehicle. Instead look towards DuraLast which goes for $160, or the OEM TrueStart, Optima, or Carquest batteries.
Hybrid batteries are a completely different thing in comparison to standard lead-acid batteries. The batteries for Toyota hybrid range from $3,000 to $8,000 for brand new options, and up to $5,000 for used or refurbished.
While we didn’t find a definitive answer, we now have a good idea about who makes the Toyota TrueStart batteries. The main contenders are Clarios and Exide, but Panasonic and GS Yuasa are also in the realm of options, especially for the Asian market.
What matters, in the end, is that Toyota TrueStart batteries are extremely durable and come with some of the warranty guarantees, so you don’t have to worry about your purchase!
