Voltas eyes 20 % market share in Kerala

Voltas Limited, one of the largest air-conditioning and engineering services company in India, is eyeing a 20 per cent market share in 2006-07 in Kerala. The company has charted out a multi-pronged strategy to enhance its sales.

Addressing a press conference here today, K D Virmani, senior general manager, Voltas Ltd, said the company would invest Rs 6 crore in retail expansion apart from expanding the product portfolio by adding a new range of window ACs and split ACs and increasing the dealer network from the present 2,000 to 3,500 nationally. At present, the company has 18 per cent market share in Kerala.

The company has earmarked Rs 20 crore for product promotion and advertising. "We are aiming at a growth of over 50 per cent and have set a target for 20 per cent market share in Kerala," Virmani said. Of the total sales of Voltas air-conditioners in India, Kerala accounts for 5 per cent.

He said that company would launch two split air-conditioners "� Vertis Premium window ACs and Vertis Gold "� and four window ACs "� Vertis, Vertis Plus, Vertis Premium and Vertis Gold "� to cater to the needs of different segments.

On its Hyderabad unit, he said the company would close down its Hyderabad plant by April 2006 as a new big plant has been operational in Pant Nagar in Uttaranchal. The second AC plant also at Pant Nagar would commence operation by September-October.