Intex to sell 15 million smartphones this fiscal

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Intex Technologies, the second-largest smartphone maker of Indian origin, is well on track to sell 15 million smartphones during the current financial year, up from seven million units during 2014-15, according to its director Keshav Bansal.

Announcing the launch of Aqua Trend mobile handset and Telugu movie actor Mahesh Babu as the brand ambassador for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on Monday, Bansal said the company sold 20 million handsets last year and was expecting the sales volumes to touch 30 million units this fiscal.

Intex, which currently has four manufacturing units at Jammu, Baddi and Noida, is planning to start commercial production at its first plant in Greater Noida in the next six to eight months.

"The two-million sq ft facility, being set up with an investment of Rs 1,500 crore, will manufacture 3.5 million feature and smartphones per month," he said, adding that the zero-debt company would spend Rs 500 crore on research and development over the next three years, and Rs 300 crore on marketing activities this year.

Stating that the mobile business contributes around 80 per cent to the company's revenues, while consumer durables like LED televisions and washing machines and IT products including speakers account for the rest, Bansal said Intex was aiming at doubling its revenues to Rs 9,000 crore this fiscal on the back of its reach and expanding product portfolio.

According to Sanjay Kalirona, head (mobile business), Intex, the company is currently working on a 4G smartphone powered by Sailfish, an operating system developed by Finnish firm Jolla. "The sub-Rs 10,000 smartphone, primarily targeting the Indian consumers, is slated for launch in November this year," he added.