Air-conditioning and commercial refrigeration major Blue Star has decided to focus more on the residential segment from the forthcoming summer season with a wide range of room air-conditioners which will be available in a large number of retail channels.
Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, B. Thiagarajan, President, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Products Group, Blue Star, said over the last few years, the demand from the residential segment was significant given the higher disposable income. This enabled the company to penetrate into this segment. Mr. Thiagarajan said the company in the current year would sell nearly 2.75 lakh units of air-conditioners of which residential and commercial segments would have an equal share. He said the overall air-conditioner market in India last year was 37 lakh units and it was estimated to go up to 47 lakh units in the current year. Of this, nearly 85 per cent came from the residential segment and the balance from the corporate/commercial segment.
It has launched a new range of spilt air-conditioners. These air-conditioners would be available in the 2, 3 and 5-star ratings. As regards distribution, the company was planning to offer these products through some reputed retail channels in select cities in addition to the present 700 sales-and-service dealers. .
