Consumer durables brand Akai, which re-entered India last year, will look at setting up a manufacturing facility in India in the next three to four years.

The company soft-launched its products last year and is focusing on ramping up its product portfolio and distribution in the country.

It has already launched a range of products, which includes LED TVs, air-conditioners, washing machines and air-purifiers.

These products are currently being made by contract manufacturers. “We want to ensure we have a presence across segments and offer the complete portfolio of consumer electronics products. This is crucial to make a mark in the Indian consumer durables market,” said Anurag Sharma, Director, Akai India.

Sharma’s firm Hometech Digital Pvt Ltd, a Paras Group company, has launched brand Akai in India under a licensing deal with the Japanese company.

“We will be ramping up our AC portfolio by bringing in inverter ACs soon. Besides, we hope to foray in the refrigerator segment by early next year,” he added.

The company has ramped up its distribution in most of the Northern region and is expanding to other States such as Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. It aims to have over 200 distributors and presence in about 2,000-3,000 retail points by the year-end.

“We hope to reach a critical mass and achieve a threshold level by the end of 2018. Once we achieve this, we will look at setting up a manufacturing unit in India,” he added.

The company is also awaiting clarity on the GST framework before it starts scouting for a location for the manufacturing facility.

The company has earmarked investments worth ₹200 crore for the next two years on marketing, developing the distribution and after-sales service network.

“We aim to clock a turnover of over ₹750 crore in the next two years,” Sharma said.

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