BSH Household Appliances Manufacturing Pvt. Ltd. will invest €100 million over the next four to five years in India, said a top official.
“We will invest €100 million over the next four to five years in India,” said Michael Schollhorn, chief operating officer, BSHf Hausgeraete GmbH. “This would include a fresh investment of €50 million for construction of refrigeration unit, near Chennai.”
During 2015, BSH had invested about €100 million and the additional investment of €100 million would be used for our refrigeration facility, technology centre, marketing and brand building, he added.
The foundation stone for the new facility was laid on May 31. It will come up adjacent to the washing machine unit and start operating by early 2020-21.
BSH manufacturing units are spread across 44 acres of land in SIPCOT Industrial Area, Pillaipakkam, near Chennai. Currently, the washing machine facility occupies 20,000 sq. metres and 18,000 sq. metres has been earmarked for refrigerator facility.
“The manufacturing facility in India was set up in 2014 for laundry category, today BSH is expanding its facility to manufacture refrigeration in India for India. By 2025, we plan to become one of the leading players of the industry in India with healthy double digit growth,” said Gunjan Srivastava, managing director and chief executive officer, BSH Household Appliances .
According to him, the new facility would have an installed capacity of 500,000 units. Initially, it would provide jobs to 150 people and another 400-500 people over the next five to seven years’ time.
“Currently, we are making refrigerators through contract manufacturing. We are selling about 20,000 units per annum. The new facility will see localisation for India, and will manufacture products for the brand Bosch. We will focus on two door fridges between 260 and 360 litres,” Mr. Srivastava said.