The country's largest lead acid battery manufacturer, Exide Industries Ltd plans to invest Rs 180 crore in the current fiscal to raise capacity by 20 per cent.

Under the proposed plan, the company will invest Rs 180 crore, out of which Rs 90 crore will be invested in automotive segment and Rs 60 crore to raise capacity by 20 per cent.

The company also expects to double its supplies to the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are likely to reach 5 million units a year, from the present level of 2.5 million units, in 2009-10.

The rise in supply is seen following a slew of agreements with automobile makers like General Motors India, Toyota Kirloskar Motor and Fiat India.

The company has not yet increased the price of its products this year, despite the steep rise in the prices of lead, the principal raw material, which is used for battery manufacturing.

The company said that it would examine the possibility of any price increase only if, lead prices rise above 2,500 dollars per tonne. Lead price has gone up by 52 per cent at 2,200 dollars per tonne this year.

The company has announced a net profit of Rs 82.20 crore for the quarter ended June 30, up 17% compared with Rs 70.11 crore for the same period a year-ago.     

Total income of the company rose to Rs 908.88 crore for the first quarter of this fiscal from Rs 664.58 crore in the previous financial year.