Comeback mission: Indian handset companies bet on PLI scheme to beat rivals

Bet on PLI scheme to beat rivals, but market sends out mixed signals

After languishing for long, Indian smartphone majors are gearing up to fight back. At least two of them – Lava and Micromax – are arming themselves against the Chinese rivals which made them insignificant in the local market over the past few years.

Noida-headquartered Lava International, for instance, has scripted a comprehensive plan for a comeback. Expansion of the local manufacturing base to strengthening distribution and R&D, new product line-up to global tie-ups for exports, the company wants to do it all.  

According to Sanjeev Agarwal, chief manufacturing officer, Lava International, the company will scale up the capacities and increase the international