BATERIKU (M) Sdn. Bhd. (Bateriku) officially launches its Astra brand automotive batteries after it had successfully received SIRIM certification for all 28 of its Stock Keeping Units (SKUs).

The SIRIM certification under IEC 60095 standards recognizes Astra’s adherence to international safety and quality benchmarks, making it the only automotive battery brand certified for all 28 SKUs – including MF (Maintenance Free), EFB (Enhanced Flooded Battery), and AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) types.

This makes it the only battery brand certified by SIRIM IEC 60095 that offers free Group Takaful Personal Accident Insurance and nationwide warranty assistance, which is a first in the Malaysian battery industry.

Each purchase of an Astra battery comes with a free Group Takaful Personal Accident (GPA) Insurance coverage of up to RM7,000.

Consumers will also benefit from Nationwide Warranty Assist, which includes on-location assistance anywhere in Malaysia. For instance, Bateriku will promptly respond through its ecosystem to assist the customer on-site if a user replaces a battery in Shah Alam, Selangor and experiences an issue in Bota Kiri, Perak.

"Astra (battery) is a promise of quality, after-sales support, and peace of mind for every road user. It is also the mechanic’s battery of choice because they (mechanics) no longer have to handle warranty claims from their customers," said Bateriku chief executive officer Azarol Faizi.

"Now, workshop customers can visit any of the 225 Bateriku Pitstops nationwide or call Bateriku’s 24-hour hotline. Everything will be handled by Bateriku,” he added.

The Astra battery launch event also saw the official opening of the company's own quality lab - an in-house facility that conducts comprehensive testing of the performance, durability, and safety of every supplied Astra battery.

The establishment of the Bateriku Quality Lab under Makmal Hijau Sdn. Bhd. aims at strengthening internal quality control by ensuring that every Astra battery meets the required quality standards.

Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) deputy secretary g eneral (Industry) Datuk Hanafi Sakri, who was in attendence of the launch, commended Bateriku for its commitment to obtaining SIRIM IEC60095 certification for Astra products and for investing in the development and operation of the battery quality lab.

“Bateriku’s commitment to obtaining SIRIM certification for the Astra brand and establishing its own quality lab demonstrates that our local companies are capable of competing not only in terms of price but also in quality and transparency of quality control,” said Hanafi.

Hanafi also praised Bateriku’s dynamic operational ecosystem – from building a local brand and internal technological capabilities to its network of mobile gig technicians (BHero), entrepreneurs (BPreneur), and workshop/tow truck partners (BBuddy). 

Bateriku also contributes to sustainability through the Briged Hijau initiative, which collects and responsibly disposes of used batteries and electronic waste.

Astra has recorded over 1 million units sold since its introduction three years ago. Bateriku states that the sales figures are driven by the company's robust ecosystem. This includes 225 physical pitstops nationwide and more than 1,500 mobile gig technicians trained by the Bateriku Academy.