Name

Sabat Batteries

Legal name

AutoX (PTY) Ltd

Website

https://sabat.co.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Batteries

NAICS

Battery Manufacturing (33591), Battery Manufacturing (335910)

akta.pro primary industry

Battery Cells (Li-ion, LFP, Sodium-ion, Lead-acid, NiMH) (IMAGAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Battery Modules & Packs (Industrial/Commercial pack assembly) (IMAGAHAB), Automotive Batteries & 12V/Low-Voltage Energy Storage Manufacturing (IMACAJAJ), Aftermarket Battery, Charging & Power Accessories Manufacturing (12V Batteries/Jump Starters/Chargers/Inverters) (IMACANAL)

Keywords

• Automotive batteries
• Vehicle batteries
• Motorcycle batteries
• Leisure batteries
• Marine batteries

Headquarters

HQ city

Johannesburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Battery Product Sales: One-time sale of automotive, commercial, motorcycle, and leisure batteries through retail stores, fitment centres, and SABAT Xpress outlets. Revenue generated from the sale of physical battery products with varying warranty periods (25 months for automotive, 6 months for motorcycle).
2. Mobile Fitment Services: Battery on Call mobile service delivers and fits batteries at customer locations. Service available 7 days a week from 07:00am to 22:00pm.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Sabat Batteries manufactures and sells a full range of lead-acid batteries — including automotive (SMF, EFB, AGM), commercial truck, motorcycle, leisure, marine/watercraft, and agricultural batteries — through its own SABAT Battery Xpress retail chain, approved stockists, fitment centres, a Battery on Call mobile delivery and fitment service, and export channels across Sub-Saharan Africa and Namibia. The product portfolio is complemented by the distribution of premium VARTA and Yuasa/Toplite battery brands in South Africa.

Product overview

Sabat Batteries is a South African battery manufacturer offering a diverse portfolio of automotive, commercial, and leisure batteries through its core SABAT brand and distributed VARTA and Yuasa brands. The product line includes Starter Batteries with SMF and EFB technologies, AGM batteries, commercial fleet batteries, motorcycle batteries (Yuasa and Toplite), leisure batteries with GEL technology, and marine/watercraft batteries. The company supplements its battery sales with service offerings including Battery on Call mobile delivery and fitment, Register My Battery warranty management, and a network of SABAT Battery Xpress Centres. Production takes place at a facility in Gqeberha with distribution across all nine South African provinces and export to Sub-Saharan Africa.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SABAT Starter Batteries Sealed Maintenance Free (SMF) automotive starter batteries with Enhanced Flooded Battery (EFB) technology for improved Start-Stop cycling. Covered by a 25-month nationwide warranty and 98% recyclable. Sold to passenger vehicle and SUV owners through SABAT Xpress Centres and approved stockists.
• SABAT AGM Batteries Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) batteries manufactured by Clarios for SABAT, delivering up to three times the cyclic stability of conventional flooded batteries, with faster charging, improved current output, and vibration resistance for modern Start-Stop vehicles.
• SABAT Commercial Batteries Heavy-duty batteries for trucks and commercial fleets, available in Sealed Maintenance Free, Enhanced Flooded Technology, and VARTA PROMOTIVE variants, with superior vibration resistance and quick-charging capability for fleet operators of brands such as DAF, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Scania, MAN, and Iveco.
• SABAT Motorcycle Batteries VRLA maintenance-free motorcycle batteries including AGM variants with top lead alloy construction for increased weld strength and severe vibration resistance, plus a valve-relief vent system with flame arrestor. Backed by a 12-month nationwide warranty.
• SABAT Leisure Batteries GEL technology deep-cycle batteries designed for camping, boating, and caravanning, with spill-proof construction, improved discharge depth, and better charge acceptance. Not recommended for cranking applications. Targeted at outdoor and leisure enthusiasts.
• SABAT Watercraft and Snowmobile Batteries Marine batteries engineered for optimal power and performance in aquatic and cold environments, for use in boats, jet skis (Kawasaki, Yamaha, Sea-Doo), and snowmobiles.
• SABAT Agricultural Vehicle Batteries Batteries for tractors and agricultural machinery from brands such as John Deere, Case, Caterpillar, New Holland, Massey Ferguson, and Kubota. Sealed Maintenance Free design with rugged case construction, vibration resistance, and high-temperature design for African farming conditions.
• VARTA Batteries (Dynamic SLI, Dynamic EFB, Dynamic AGM, Promotive SLI, Promotive AGM) Premium OE-quality VARTA batteries distributed by SABAT for standard vehicles (Dynamic SLI Blue with PowerFrame grid and 24-month warranty), Start-Stop entry-level (Dynamic EFB with up to 2x cycle life), high-demand Start-Stop and xEV applications (Dynamic AGM with up to 3x cycle life), and commercial vehicles (Promotive SLI Blue and Promotive AGM with up to 8x cyclic stability of conventional flooded batteries).
• Yuasa and Toplite Motorcycle Batteries World-renowned Yuasa motorcycle batteries supplied to leading motorcycle manufacturers as OEM, distributed by SABAT alongside Toplite — a Yuasa-manufactured spill-proof battery with advanced lead-calcium technology suitable for all motorbikes.
• Battery on Call Mobile Service Mobile battery delivery and fitment service for South African motorists. Qualified technicians deliver and install a replacement battery at the customer's location. Available Monday to Sunday, 07:00am to 22:00pm.
• SABAT Battery Xpress Centres Owned chain of battery specialist retail outlets providing sales, professional advice, mobile delivery, and fitment services. Locations span all nine South African provinces.
• Register My Battery (Online Warranty Registration) User-friendly online warranty registration platform enabling customers to securely store warranty details for their SABAT battery and access them when needed for service or replacement claims.

Quantifiable outcome

• Batteries are 98% recyclable
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• C2C MissionminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 September 2022SABAT sponsored the C2C (Chartwell to Chartwell) Mission, a journey of seven Land Rovers traveling from Chartwell South Africa to Chartwell England. The mission aimed to raise R5m for youth development and water conservation projects.
• African Honey BeeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 May 2022Partnership with African Honey Bee and Rhino Pride to assist poverty alleviation in rural South African communities through sustainable micro-beekeeping businesses. Project headed by Khanyisani Trust aims to benefit 6,000 families over 10 years.
• Jacaranda FMminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 February 2022Partnership with Jacaranda FM's 'Good Morning Angels' program for the SABAT Bursary Fund. The bursary fund provides financial support to students for education, including contributions of R40,000-R60,000 per student for tuition fees.
• QuadPara Association of South Africa (QASA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1997For over 15 years, SABAT Batteries has donated batteries for members' wheelchairs. The partnership began in 1997 when quadriplegics using power wheelchairs could get access to sponsored SABAT batteries. Annual events celebrate the longstanding relationship.
• ClarioscoreTechnology or IntegrationClarios, the world's largest battery manufacturer, produces AGM batteries for SABAT. All SABAT AGM batteries are manufactured by Clarios, providing innovative plate technology delivering up to three times the cyclic stability of conventional flooded batteries.
• VARTAcoreTechnology or IntegrationSABAT distributes VARTA battery products including Dynamic SLI, Dynamic EFB, and Dynamic AGM ranges. VARTA is a premium brand offering OE-quality batteries with PowerFrame grid technology for superior strength, durability, and corrosion resistance.
• YuasacoreTechnology or IntegrationYuasa is a world-renowned manufacturer and supplier of motorcycle batteries, preferred as OEM supplier to leading motorcycle manufacturers. SABAT supplies Yuasa and Toplite (also manufactured by Yuasa) motorcycle batteries.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• First National Battery: Largest South African battery manufacturer producing Willard, Royal, and other automotive, commercial, and industrial battery brands. Directly comparable as a domestic manufacturer competing for the same OEM, aftermarket, and fleet customers across all 9 provinces.
• Battery Centre: South African battery specialist franchise retail network selling multiple battery brands with fitment services. Directly competes with SABAT Xpress Centres for retail battery sales and mobile/installation service customers.
• Willard Batteries: Iconic South African automotive battery brand now part of the First National Battery group. Competes head-to-head with SABAT in passenger vehicle, commercial, and leisure segments and shares the same national stockist and fitment centre channels.

Broad incumbents

• Energizer Holdings: Global consumer and specialty battery company with broad retail presence across Africa. Comparable at the consumer-battery and retail-channel level, though Energizer's focus is more on primary cells than automotive lead-acid.
• Exide Technologies: Global lead-acid battery manufacturer with established distribution in South Africa and broader Africa. Overlaps with SABAT in automotive, commercial, and industrial batteries but at much larger global scale and broader product portfolio.
• GS Yuasa: Japanese battery manufacturer and global leader in motorcycle and industrial batteries. Comparable through its motorcycle battery line (parallel to Yuasa products distributed by SABAT) and broader automotive and stationary battery portfolio.
• Clarios: World's largest automotive battery manufacturer and SABAT's AGM technology partner (via VARTA). Represents both a critical supplier and a global incumbent whose expansion decisions in Sub-Saharan Africa directly shape SABAT's competitive landscape.
• EnerSys: Global industrial battery manufacturer with strong presence in motive power, reserve power, and starting batteries. Comparable where SABAT serves commercial fleets, agricultural, and backup-power customers.

Emerging players

• Leoch Battery: Asian battery manufacturer expanding globally across automotive, motorcycle, and UPS battery categories. Comparable as an emerging low-cost competitor in motorcycle and aftermarket channels where SABAT also competes.

Regional players

• Hoppecke: European-headquartered industrial battery manufacturer with growing activity in African mining, rail, and stationary storage markets. Comparable as an industrial lead-acid competitor, particularly for commercial and stationary applications in Africa.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCKD9RSjdgjDtqHvTCR3XT9g
• Facebookfacebook.com/SABATbatteries
• Instagraminstagram.com/sabatbatteries
• Xx.com/SABATBatteries

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sabat Batteries