Hitachi launches AC in Chandigarh

Priced at Rs 24,500; saves 45% on power

Hitachi Home and Life Solutions (India) Ltd launched its new range of window air-conditioner (AC), Hitachi "Quadricool", in Chandigarh yesterday.

The new range of air conditioners is based on twin turbo technology. The 1.25-tone air-conditioner, priced at Rs 24,500, is available in four colours.

Senior Vice-President Rajesh Khanna told Business Standard the product had been launched in some parts of the country and had received encouraging response. He said that that north India was the biggest market for air-conditioners.

He said Punjab accounted for 6.7 per cent of the market share for Hitachi air-conditioners in terms of volume. The company has a network of 75 dealers and retailers in this region (Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir), apart from a service network.

He pointed out the new air-conditioners launched were the most suitable for this region because the ACs had been equipped with a chip that contained climate data relating to 100 cities of India. It has a real time clock.

So the required temperature can be obtained and continuously adjusted. In cases of extreme and fluctuating weather conditions, this AC could give the best results, said Khanna.

Compared to others, this air-conditioner consumes about 45 per cent of power. It would cost about Rs 800 per month if used eight hours a day, Khanna said.

Hitachi has about a market share of 13 per cent in this region.

Khanna said the recent escalation in the prices of steel, copper, and plastic had affected the air-conditioning business. But, efforts would be made not to pass on the cost to the consumer, he added. "We are looking at market growth. So our main concern at present is increase in sales," Khanna said.

The manufacturing unit at Kadi in Gujarat has a capacity of producing 2.5 lakh units annually. The company had no expansion plan as of now, Khanna said.