Sony set to capture 30 pc of LCD biz by next year

New Delhi, Nov 25: Sony India expects to capture 30 per cent market share by next year with its new LCD range, Bravia.

''We aim to capture 25 per cent market share in terms of units and 30 per cent in terms of revenue of the LCD segment. The current market is of about 4,00,000 units,'' Sony India Managing Director Masaru Tamagawa told the sources.

The company would target the 32 inch and above in LCD screens as the market is niche for the lower ones, he added.

Sony India has already invested five million dollars for promotional activities and are planning a massive expansion in the country.

''We want to expand Sony's market in India,'' Mr Tamagawa said.

However, the company will not set up any manufacturing units in India. ''We have already studied the Indian prospects along with other options but there are non plans of setting up a plant,'' he added.

The company has also lowered the prices of its Playstation 2 in India to cater to a larger audience, he said adding that further price cuts seem difficult.

There is a huge growth potential for LCD and plasma TVs in the flat panel display market. The present television market size in India is pegged at over Rs 1,100 crore.

Sony is expecting a 400 per cent growth in its revenue in the LCD segment. The company has about a 100 retail outlets (Sony World stores) along with a huge number of distributors, which gives our brand a chance to grow to newer heights, said Mr Tamagawa.

Sony is also expecting a 300 per cent increase in its revenues from its laptop business, while it forecasts an increase of 200 per cent in the revenue of its still camera segment.

UNI