Whirlpool to focus on AC segment, launch new range by Feb

Home appliances manufacturer, Whirlpool India is looking to strengthen its position in the air-conditioner segment and plans to launch smart and affordable range of cooling solutions by February next year, a senior company official said.

"Even though we are focussing on all categories of home appliances, our major thrust is on the air-conditioner segment. We plan to launch a few smart, affordable and intelligent range of cooling solutions called 'Mastermind series' early next year," Whirlpool's Vice-President (Marketing and Exports) Shahzad Akhtar told PTI here.

A unique feature of this range (split air-conditioners) would be its efficiency in saving power and energy, he said, without divulging the pricing.

At present, Whirlpool's market share in the air-conditioner segment is 5-6 per cent. Besides, air-conditioner, Whirlpool, is also planning to introduce several new and innovative products such as clothes-dryers, air-treatment and water-treatment systems, Akhtar said.

"We also plan to focus strongly on washing machines, in which we are a world leader," he said.

Whirlpool, which on an average invests Rs 100-crore annually on launches, upgrading and innovations, is targeting a 30 per cent growth in volumes this fiscal, he said.

The company would be investing Rs 300-crore in the next three-years, Akhtar said, adding that one-third of the products to be launched next year would be new.