The Hindu : Business : RBS Home Appliances to expand

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 10, 2004

Business

Business

RBS Home Appliances to expand

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JUNE 9. Buoyed by increasing sales of washing machines and refrigerators, RBS Home Appliances, which distributes Siemens home appliances in India, is planning to double turnover to Rs. 80 crores this year and is open to the idea of establishing manufacturing unit.

Talking to mediapersons during the launch of a refrigerator that brings Aggion technology launched two years ago to India now, the company's Managing Director, Vipul B. Raval, said they might also look at establishing manufacturing unit in the country in the next 3-5 years by when sales should attain critical volume.

While the new refrigerator has been priced at a premium, RBS Home Appliances, whose 50 per cent sales come from washing machines, would also look at launching a range of cooling and cooking appliances in the near future. It was also considering launching direct cool fridges.

With the new product line-up, RBS Home Appliances proposes to strengthen distribution network across India, especially in northern parts.

Incidentally before March 2002, RBS Home Appliances was known as Bosch and Siemens Home Appliances Group (BSH), which was incorporated in 1997 as a wholly owned subsidiary of BSH Germany.

It received Foreign Investment Promotion Board approval on the condition that it would have a manufacturing unit in four years of its operation.

When the Indian arm of the German firm could not adhere to the mandatory condition, the entire shareholding was transferred to resident Indians and it was rechristened as RBS Home Appliances.

RBS has invested Rs. 30 crores in India. The company was planning to launch 160-litre fridges to become an important player here, he said.

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