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The rush for energy-efficiency in the air-conditioning (AC) segment this summer saw inverter ACs making a small beginning in May.
These ACs, which are energy-efficient, have a mechanism where the compressor changes frequency according to the ambient load and cools according to the need, say its makers. They claim it cuts energy bills by 40-50 per cent.
“The sale of inverter ACs would be any where around 2 lakh this fiscal and Daikin would be selling around 20,000. Till last year, these accounted for 5-7 per cent of Daikin’s sales. This number in first quarter rose to 15-20 per cent,” says Kanwal Jeet Jawa, Managing Director, Daikin Air-conditioning India Pvt Ltd.
The company hopes to raise this number to 30-40 per cent by 2015. Daikin, for one, is upping efforts to educate customers on the efficacy of inverter ACs. It has adopted close to 450 colonies in Delhi-NCR and has put up hoardings on colony gates to spread awareness about the product. This has been replicated in Gujarat and Punjab, too.
“China already has 50 per cent inverter ACs and the concept is catching up in India as well. At present, people don’t understand what an inverter AC is. So, the focus right now is to educate. “Save the nature, save electricity” is our punch-line,” adds Jawa.
LG Electronics, too, has been doing its bit in the segment and is bracing for next summer with a focus on digital platform and in-store experience. “We are trying to demystify the inverter technology with regard to its relevance in power saving through our communication. We launched inverter ACs in India two years ago. Next summer, we see these contributing around 5 per cent to our business,” says Saurabh Baisakhiya, Business Head, Air Conditioners, LG India.
Manish Sharma, Managing Director, Consumer Product Division, Panasonic India, says the market for energy-efficient products is still growing in India. “These ACs with inverter technology have been selling well for us with a 5 per cent contribution to our AC sales,” he says.
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