Powerbat started trading in the mid 1970's when the Free State Region of Willard Batteries started marketing and selling from an eight ton Mercedes Truck. The Powerbat branch was opened in 1978.

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The volumes grew and it was decided to improve the service levels by opening a branch in Windhoek in Voigts Street in an old house that was painted green and yellow using the house as office space and the garage as the warehouse. The branch continued to fall under the Free State Region.

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In the early 90s Willard Batteries moved to larger premises in a new building on the corner of Voigts and Edison Street and Willard Batteries was registered as a separate company in Namibia following the Independence of Namibia in 1990. It is proud to have one of the earliest and oldest Namibian company registration numbers (SWA 403).

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The building was acquired by other owners and the lease not extended and Willard Batteries moved to Jeppe Street in the Northern Industrial area of Windhoek.

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In the late 90’s/early 2000s Powertech the holding company of Willard Batteries acquired SABAT Battery Manufacturers in South Africa and the the Namibian Agent for SABAT Batteries relinquished the agency during mid 2000s. All stock was thus moved to the Willard Batteries operation in Jeppe Street.

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All documentation and legal issues at the time was under the Willard Batteries company and it was decided to change the name to a more general name and Powerbat was established in 2005 to cater for both brands.

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Being located in the Northern Industrial area meant that the operation was distant from Windhoek customer base and with the advent of growth in the SABAT Batteries brand it was decided to move closer to the market and source a larger warehouse which was found in the then newly established industrial area in Prosperita where it is still housed today.

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Powerbat was included in the acquisition of Powertech shares of Powertech Batteries and as such continues to operate as a subsidiary of AutoX and continues to trade with both the Willard and SABAT Battery Brands as well as the VARTA brand in Automotive Batteries and has along with its holding company recently introduced to the Industrial market the Rentech brand of standby and renewable energy solutions.