sktn77a

iTrader: (2)

My 7 year old OEM battery was replaced earlier this year by Lexus. They installed an Interstate battery. I just hope it was a shorted battery that couldn't take a charge, and not the charging system.

Devh

It is a question of Logistics and nothing sinister, and the quality aspect is incidental and not intentional. It just happens that Panasonic makes some of the best car batteries for an OEM and it would have been nice to get that level of battery domestically.

roadfrog

I just replaced my OEM factory battery and it was a Panasonic.

Devh

I think we are on to something. I did a search a few hours ago and it seems that some of the early LS460 came with the Panasonic battery. My factory battery was not for my 2011. I did not mention it before but I had the factory battery replaced three weeks ago because it was on it's way out with a hard start.
It failed the load test and I was issued another non Panasonic battery. The battery failed prematurely and I suspect this one will as well.

roadfrog

FWIW, I installed an AC Delco Pro and it works very well. Wasn't terribly excited about installing a GM battery in my Lexus, but the sale price was too good to pass up and the CCA numbers etc, are excellent.

Devh

Many of the batteries we get today are rebranded batteries from various battery houses. East Penn batteries are known to be really good. From what I have read in the past interstate is a hit or miss because they too buy from a variety of battery house of varying quality.

I was told about Panasonic batteries from a friend that worked in the industry and he mentioned something that resonated with me. If you ever bought an actual Japanese A/V device (not a Japanese sourced one) it will come with either Panasonic or rebranded Panasonic for the remote and you may remember that the batteries lasted for a very long time. Once you replace them with Duracell or Energizers you will notice that they last half as long.