Each major auto parts retailer will carry Champion batteries; you already know who makes them. You are unsure whether they are worthwhile investments, although they seem to be a good bargain and have a low price for their power capacity.
Clarios, a Brookfield Business Partners L.P. subsidiary, produces champion batteries. Previous until 2019, Johnson Controls International owned the manufacturing site.
The decisions taken by large organizations might be exceedingly difficult to understand and ultimately of little significance to end users. Yet, we will discuss every component that goes into making Champion batteries before evaluating their performance.
The Champion Company
Albert Champion created the American company Champion in 1905. It is sometimes known as Champion, Champion ignition, or Champion spark plugs. The business specializes in manufacturing spark plugs, as the various names suggest.
In 1908, Champion spark plugs were used in the Ford Model T. The foray into the aviation industry succeeded since Champion igniters were used on the Concorde and the Bell P59 jet fighter.
The Renault Alpine A442 sports vehicle won the Le Mans with Champion spark plugs in 1978. Many records were also broken, as the Thrust 2 vehicle broke the land speed record in 1984.
Recently, Champion has started supplying spark plugs for F1 use, contributing insignificantly to Fernando Alonso’s triumphs in 2005 and 2006.
Automobile batteries did not enter the scene until much later, with Champion’s acquisition by Cooper Industries, a Federal-Mogul Corporation affiliate, in the late 1990s.
Who Is the Owner of the Champion Company?
I have spent hours looking for the solution to this topic, yet all that study has given me more questions. It is almost hard to trace the ownership of any tiny subsidiary due to corporate trades, mergers, restructurings, and rebrandings, and that is precisely the situation here.
Since the late 1990s, Champion has been covered by the Federal-Mogul Company. How this occurred, there are several competing reports, nevertheless.
Wikipedia is the greatest place to go for information; it is said that Cooper Industries acquired Champion in 1989. The issue is that Cooper Industries, Champion, MOOG chassis, and a few more companies were purportedly acquired by Federal-Mogul in 1998, according to the company’s website.
Whatever response is true, we already know that Federal-Mogul owns Champion.
Who Makes Champion Batteries?
While there is no connection between Champion’s ownership and the battery maker, I had to do so. After producing ignition components for a while, Champion began producing wiper blades in the 1990s.
It is unclear when Champion entered the battery industry, but Johnson Controls produced the goods.
In 1978, Johnson Controls acquired Globe-Union, a battery manufacturer. The important detail is that Champion batteries are an excellent company because their lead-acid battery manufacture provides some of the most well-known brands, including Continental, OPTIMA, Heliar, LTH, Delkor, and VARTA.
On May 1st, 2019, the power solutions division was sold to Brookfield Business Partners and given the new name Clarios.
Global electricity supply juggernaut Clarios is a Brookfield Business Partners company. It has more than 50 facilities and 16,000 people globally, and 33% of all automobiles on the road today include one of its products.
Clarios’ regional brands include:
- OPTIMA Batteries is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and has a regional office.
- With regional headquarters in Monterrey, Mexico, OPTIMA Batteries and LTH.
- Regional headquarters in South America include Heliar, VARTA, MAC Batteries, and OPTIMA Batteries.
- With regional headquarters in Hannover, Germany, VARTA and OPTIMA Batteries.
- With their regional headquarters in Shanghai, China, are VARTA and OPTIMA Batteries.
- Their regional headquarters in South Korea are Delkor, VARTA, and OPTIMA Batteries.
While Champion batteries are not named, we know that Clarios manufactures them. Given that Champion batteries are a direct rival of Clarios and that disclosing the possibility that they are comparable to OPTIMA batteries might hurt Clarios’ sales, it makes logical for Clarios to refrain from promoting Champion batteries.
What Country Makes Champion Batteries?
We can pinpoint with precision where the Champion battery is created by comparing the list of regional headquarters with the “made-in” tag on the battery.
- The battery was made at the Shanghai plant if the label reads “Made in China.”
- The battery was made at the Monterrey factory if the label reads “Made in Mexico.”
- The battery was made at the Wisconsin factory if the label reads “Made in the U.S.”
How to Choose a Reliable Car Battery
I have a great deal of first-hand knowledge of both upmarket and lesser-known companies. I have found that the guarantee and the specification are the only two factors that matter. The battery must meet your vehicle’s amperage and cold-cranking amperage specifications.
If your vehicle is gasoline-powered, it should be simple to locate a sufficient battery. Nevertheless, if your car is diesel-powered, you should be cautious when buying inexpensive batteries since many have big capacities but fall short of the cold crank amperage requirement.
Thus, why is warranty so crucial? Batteries are a consumable good, and at some time, they will undoubtedly stop working. The motorist is thus put in an undesirable situation where they must either jump-start their vehicle or contact AAA.
Investing in a battery with a lengthy warranty duration is the best way to avoid it from occurring. You can be confident that a battery will last the advertised 2-4 years since battery makers are among the best at making goods that last longer than the guarantee.
How Good Are Champion Batteries?
Based on the earlier parts, we may conclude that Champion batteries are a good choice.
While I can not tell for sure, I believe that Champion batteries are produced to the same high standards as other batteries manufactured at the same Clarios plant, such as OPTIMA, LTH, or VARTA.
A broad choice of options may cover the majority of automobiles, SUVs, and trucks. The warranty, equivalent to warranties offered by premium manufacturers, lasts 30 or 36 months for normal batteries and 48 months for AGM batteries.
Champion batteries may be a great option when all of these factors are considered, along with less expensive pricing than premium brands.
Where Can I Get Champion Batteries?
Larger supply networks for auto components carry Champion batteries. Only a few of the many suppliers of Champion goods are listed here:
- Pep Boys
- NAPA Auto Parts
- AAMCO Total Car Care
- Performance Auto Care
- Auto Supply Company
- O’Reilly Auto Parts
- Autozone
- Newt and Johnnie’s Auto
- Universal Truck Repair
- Lee’s Automotive Repair
- Factory Motor Parts
FAQs
Is the Champion AGM battery reliable?
The Champion AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) batteries are more robust than normal flooded batteries. These will operate reliably for a long time since they have a 4-year warranty.
What is the greatest battery brand to purchase?
It is difficult to determine which brand is the best since, as we have seen in this article, some of the greatest batteries on the market, like Optima, are probably made in the same factory as Champion batteries.
When I began my investigation for this post, I would have stated Bosch, Optima, and Varta. Nevertheless, after doing so, I am forced to firmly consider Champion as a viable alternative.
What is the lifespan of a Champion automobile battery?
Your driving habits, your environment, and whether you have regularly discharged the battery all affect how long it lasts. Champion batteries can not be predicted as to how long they will survive, but I am certain they will last at least as long as their guarantee allows.
Who manufactures Bosch car batteries?
Exide Technologies, one of the top businesses in the battery sector, manufactures Bosch batteries.
Who manufactures Diehard batteries?
I believe that Diehard batteries, like Champion batteries, are produced by Clarios.
What is an AGM battery?
AGM, which stands for Absorbent Glass Matt, is a modern technique for making lead-acid batteries. They cannot overflow or spill and are entirely sealed, maintenance-free, and more vibration-resistant.
Should I change out my car’s four-year-old battery?
Even if your battery is four years old, you should not change it if your vehicle routinely starts with “half a turn” of the key. The only time you should test and, if required, replace the battery is when you hear an ignition whine as the starter tries to start the engine.
Summary
Clarios, a business that produces one-third of all batteries, now produces Champion batteries.
While it is impossible to say if Champion batteries are as well-made as other batteries made by Clarios, such as VARTA or Optima, I would feel comfortable buying one.