As of today nearly 8 million batteries have already been recalled. The recall program is driving up prices and causing delays in shipments, according to executives from three Taiwanese manufacturers.
The shortfall stemming from the largest recall in the consumer-electronics industry may last until next June and customers are waiting an extra two months for shipments, said managers at Gentle Wayeer Electric Co., ETI Pack Co. and Nexcell Battery Co., which make packs from cells supplied by Tokyo-based Sony and competitors such as Sanyo Electric Co.
Sony, the world's second-largest rechargeable battery cell maker after Sanyo, is replacing lithium-ion packs after computer makers including Dell Inc. found that some burst into flames. A shortage of the batteries, used in electronics ranging from laptops to handheld music players, might dent sales during the year-end shopping season.