Asus, the $12-billion Taiwan-based personal computer vendor, is just two years old in India.
But it is looking to catch up with competitors Lenovo and Acer to gain a significant market share for its notebooks and tablets.
Before December, Asus plans to set up 140 exclusive stores to sell its products across the country, taking its store count to 200.
On an average, two stores will be set up every week for the rest of the year, according to Peter Chang, Regional Head, South Asia and Country Manager, System Business Group, Asus India.
Last year, totally 5.5 million units of laptops and netbooks were sold in India. Of this, Asus captured a 5-7 per cent market share. The company targets 10 per cent market share this year, said Chang.
“For us, India is the most significant market, and this is well recognised in our headquarters,” he told Business Line.
Chang was in town to open the company’s first exclusive store, with its partner South Gate Technologies.
Asus does not have its own manufacturing plants. It sources its products from original equipment manufacturers such as Compal and Wintron.
It imports the products from China to its warehouse in Goa, from where it is distributed to retail outlets across India.
Plant proposal
When asked whether the company may consider setting up a manufacturing plant in India, Chang said he would give his feedback on the Indian market to the origial equipment manufacturers and the company’s headquarters. They will take a call, he said.
Unaez Quraishi, Sales and Distribution Director, Systems Business Group, Asus India, said Asus stores would not be restricted to the top cities.
Wherever there is computer penetration, ‘we will cover’ that city, he said.
In fact, the company has even opened stores in Siliguri, Imphal, Agartala, Durgapur, Kolhapur and Bhilai.