Voltas raises air conditioning sales target for another Indian summer

Tata Group company Voltas Ltd, India's first maker of air-conditioning and refrigeration appliances, is gearing up for another scorching Indian summer, aiming to sell 10 lakh AC units in the current fiscal against eight lakh units last year. 

''We have been growing at 20 per cent in the last few years and are confident of achieving such growth in the current fiscal too,'' said Pradeep Bakshi, chief operating officer, unitary products business group, Voltas.

The UPBG vertical posted a turnover of Rs1,560 crore in 2011-12, selling 9,00,000 units against this year's target of 10,000.

Voltas is looking to increase its foothold in smaller cities and towns further to achieve its growth targets. 

''We know that economic conditions are not great. But, to achieve the desired growth, we are looking to penetrate deeper into smaller towns and cities,'' Bakshi said.

''Currently, 55 per cent of air-conditioners are sold in these parts.''

These figures were projected as Voltas introduced a new range of 'all-weather' ACs. ''We are looking to penetrate more into Tier-II and Tier-III towns and will be investing about Rs60 crore on marketing the product and making it available in these areas,'' Bakshi said.

Voltas would look to maintain current prices, despite commodity prices going up.

The company sells items such as ACs, water dispensers and commercial refrigeration products under its UBHG business.