I wonder about that also, having used nothing but Wal-Mart batteries for the past 20 years, all (maybe 8) of the batteries in about 6 different vehicles. The one in my little truck went 9 years, and replaced it just 3 years ago as a PM thing, since it was still holding a charge. Wal-Mart's batteries (the "high-priced" $60 ones anyway) are made by Johnson Controls (Energizer, Optima), and they certainly know how to make a battery.