TCL to enter AC market in India next month

China’s TCL is entering the air-conditioner market in India next month and launch an array of internet-enabled models with plans to locally manufacture them, India managing director Mike Chen said.

This comes after the company consolidated its presence in the television market in India having grown sales by 281% this year till now. TCL’s up-coming India plant, built at an outlay of Rs 2470 crore, will be fully operational by the third quarter of 2020, said Chen.

“We have enjoyed a successful run in India this year, riding on the back of some trailblazing launches that brought full-fledged artificial intelligence-powered offerings to the smart TV category. Owing to the same, our sales have grown by 281%,” he said.

Chen said TCL is placed right after Sony in the smart TV category in terms of market share in India.

He said the company will launch multiple smart home devices which will have artificial intelligence and internet connectivity capabilities. “…we plan to diversify our offerings. The expansion will be led by our personal motto of making everyday living smarter and more seamless for users,” he said.

When asked if TCL has plans to set up an online brand store to sell directly to consumers, Chen neither confirmed nor denied. He said the aspirations are mounting. “While we are enjoying a successful run in tandem with the leading online portals at present, we would be enhancing our consumer touchpoints. Some exciting developments are in order,” he said.