Panasonic rolls out Envio range of ACs

The Japanese electronics major Panasonic is making a re-entry in the Indian airconditioner market after three years with the launch of its 'Envio' range targeted at the premium segment of the split AC market.

The company expects to garner about 25 per cent share in the premium split AC segment over the next couple of years.

The size of the room ACs is estimated to be 2.15 million units during 2007-08 and split AC segment is expected to account for about 50 per cent with a volume of 0.9 million units.

Priced between Rs 32,000 and Rs 48,000 depending on the capacity, Envio comes with active e-ion air purifying system and patrol sensor, which cleans the air of dust, mould, bacteria and viruses.

The company claims its AC filter will be 7 times larger and 50 per cent finer than filters of competitor models, which has increased its filtration capacity to over 250 per cent.

Describing how the e-ion air purifying system works, Kallol Chowdhury, head, airconditioners, Panasonic Sales and Services India, said the discharged active e-ions would detect dust and inactivate them.

Then it would attract the dust to a positively charged filter to ensure fresher and cleaner air. The e-ion air purification system is five times more efficient than conventional filters, he said adding the new system was certified by the Japan Food Research Laboratories.

Hidenori Aso, deputy managing director, Panasonic Sales and Services India, said the company would be importing the ACs from its factory in Malaysia, which has a capacity to produce 1 million units. Panasonic claims to have a market share of 21 per cent in the Japanese AC market and 30 per cent in Asean.

Incorporated in July 2006, Panasonic Sales and Services India is a 100 per cent subsidiary of the Japan-based $76 plus billion Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Ltd (MEI), a Fortune 500 company and a world-wide leader in the development and manufacture of products in the categories of consumer electronics, home and domestic appliances, system and industrial products.

MEI has five entities in India, including Panasonic Sales and Services India. The Indian operations are expected to generate revenues of $240 million by the end of this financial year, recording a 20 per cent growth over the previous year. Plasma and LCD TV segment is the fastest growing business for Panasonic in India.