Toshiba expects to sign up about five car companies as customers for its new lithium-ion battery, the head of the business said in an interview with the Financial Times, writes Robin Harding.

Shoshi Kawatsu, general manager of the Super Charge Battery (SCiB) division, also said that Toshiba was preparing for the possible manufacturing of batteries in the US and Europe, and would make a decision on whether to go ahead in 2011, depending on market growth and the needs of its customers.