Whirlpool eyes 15% AC market share by 2012

Home appliances major Whirlpool India, an arm of the US-based Whirlpool Corp, today said it aims to grab 15 per cent market share in the air-conditioning segment by the year 2012.

"Currently we have a market share of around five per cent. We aim to reach 15 per cent market share (in the air conditioning segment) by 2012," Whirlpool India Corporate Affairs and Strategy-Asia (South) Vice-President Shantanu Das Gupta told reporters after unveiling series of models here.

The company launched 35 models of split ACs under Mastermind Chrome and Aviator series.

To help the firm achieve the target, Whirlpool would appoint around 1,500 dealers in over 200 cities by end of 2010, by which time Whirlpool hoped to reach a market share of 9-10 per cent.

He said the efforts would help the firm that had sold less than one lakh ACs in 2009, sell around three lakh by 2012.

Gupta said the company has also alloted Rs 15 crore for brand promotion.

On the launch of air-conditioners rated in three to five star categories, he said these ACs are priced between Rs 21,000 and Rs 33,000 for the Mastermind Chrome series and between Rs 23,000 and Rs 33,000 for Mastermind Aviator series.

To a query he said a three star air-conditioner saves 22 -25 per cent of energy and a five star one, 43 to 45 per cent.

Whirlpool currently has three manufacturing facilities at Faridabad, Pune and Puducherry. It manufactures single door refrigerator, double door and washers, he added.