Nokia India is likely to ramp up its Chennai facility with an investment of $170 million over the next 18 months to upgrade machinery and enhance capacity.
D Shivakumar, vice-president and managing director, mobile phones of Nokia India, said, "As demand increases, Nokia will put in fresh investment in its plant in Chennai to upgrade machine and capacity."
Nokia, which is planning to launch about 30 handsets in the next six months, expects its handset prices to fall by 20 per cent every year.
The company is bullish on the replacement market for CDMA handsets and has launched six models ranging between Rs 3,000 and Rs 10,000. "We cannot make a CDMA-friendly handset.
A typical CDMA entry model will cost $20, which we cannot make as it is not cost competitive for Nokia. Instead, we have launched six models focussing on the CDMA replacement demand," Shivakumar said.
Currently, Nokia's share in the replacement market is around 10 per cent.
In the last 18 months, the company has invested close to $170 million in its Chennai plant, which has manufactured 60 million handsets.
Two-third of the handsets produced there is for domestic consumption, while the rest is exported to 59 countries.
With over 700 exclusive outlets in the country, Nokia is planning to increase the number of branded outlets. In 2007 so far, the company has set up 100 branded outlets.
Nokia, which started operations in India 12 years ago, has the largest market share among GSM handset manufacturers who offer their products to Indian consumers.
Asked if the battery related problem was over, Shivakumar said that 'thankfully it had been a thing of the past now'.
About Nokia India's contribution to overall revenue of the Finnish giant, Shivakumar said that it was second to China.
The company does not have any plan to go public, he said. "Our aim is to grow the market," Shivakumar said.
Fresh upgrade
D Shivakumar, vice-president and managing director, mobile phones of Nokia India, said, "As demand increases, Nokia will put in fresh investment in its plant in Chennai to upgrade machine and capacity."
Nokia, which is planning to launch about 30 handsets in the next six months, expects its handset prices to fall by 20 per cent every year.
The company is bullish on the replacement market for CDMA handsets and has launched six models ranging between Rs 3,000 and Rs 10,000. "We cannot make a CDMA-friendly handset.
A typical CDMA entry model will cost $20, which we cannot make as it is not cost competitive for Nokia. Instead, we have launched six models focussing on the CDMA replacement demand," Shivakumar said.
Currently, Nokia's share in the replacement market is around 10 per cent.
In the last 18 months, the company has invested close to $170 million in its Chennai plant, which has manufactured 60 million handsets.
Two-third of the handsets produced there is for domestic consumption, while the rest is exported to 59 countries.
With over 700 exclusive outlets in the country, Nokia is planning to increase the number of branded outlets. In 2007 so far, the company has set up 100 branded outlets.
Nokia, which started operations in India 12 years ago, has the largest market share among GSM handset manufacturers who offer their products to Indian consumers.
Asked if the battery related problem was over, Shivakumar said that 'thankfully it had been a thing of the past now'.
About Nokia India's contribution to overall revenue of the Finnish giant, Shivakumar said that it was second to China.
The company does not have any plan to go public, he said. "Our aim is to grow the market," Shivakumar said.
Fresh upgrade
- Two-third of the handsets produced at the Chennai facility are for domestic consumption, while the rest are exported to 59 countries
- In the last 18 months, the company has invested about $170 million at its Chennai plant, which has manufactured 60 million handsets
- The company is bullish on the replacement market for CDMA handsets and has launched six models ranging between Rs 3,000 and Rs 10,000