Panasonic sees need to lift capacity 30-40%

‘Expansion possible in Chennai plant’

Panasonic Appliances India Company Ltd. anticipates a need to expand the capacity of its manufacturing facility near Chennai by 30-40% over the next five years.

The firm, which commands 60% of the 1.5-million units market for automatic cookers in India, has additional land available at the facility in Sholavaram to accommodate the expansion, its MD, Hidenori Aso, said here on Friday.

Responding to media queries at the introduction of three automatic cooker series as part of the 100th anniversary celebration of Panasonic, Mr. Aso and senior executives said the existing capacity was about 1.2 million cookers, 3 lakh mixer grinders and one lakh wet grinders.

Local production

Panasonic Appliances India has invested ₹100 crore so far.

As much as 95% of parts required for the products are made in the country, an executive said, pointing out that others imported and assembled them.

Mr. Aso said the firm had posted a turnover of ₹250 crore last year and expected that to increase 25% this fiscal.