Johnson Controls Inc.'s former power solutions unit is now called Clarios, following the sale to private equity firm Brookfield Business Partners LP.
The new entity, which makes automotive batteries, will maintain its current global manufacturing footprint, including corporate headquarters in Glendale, Wis., a suburb of Milwaukee.
"At Clarios, our vision is to power progress by creating the world's smartest energy storage solutions that benefit people, business and the planet," Joe Walicki, president of Clarios, said in a statement.
In 2018, the former power solutions unit sold 154 million batteries and generated sales of $8 billion.
The company says 1 in 3 cars worldwide is powered by its batteries, which include standard lead acid, advanced lead acid and lithium ion. Its battery cases and covers are injection molded and made with polypropylene.
It has 56 manufacturing, recycling and distribution centers, and employs 16,000 worldwide.
"As a global leader with a product used in virtually every vehicle from conventional to fully electric, we are well positioned to capitalize on market trends, including a move toward more electrified and autonomous vehicles, which are elevating the critical role of the battery and accelerating the need for more advanced batteries," Walicki said. "Under Brookfield's ownership, we can better capitalize on these growing trends and operate with more focus and efficiency."
Johnson Controls announced in November 2018 it was selling the power solutions unit to focus more on its building technologies and solutions unit, which manufactures heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems as well as building management, security and fire safety systems. The $13.2 billion cash deal marked the company's exit from the automotive supply chain.
