Days after rumors about India's decision to change its mind by calling off license requirements for imported computers and imposing a quota system, Samsung Electronics reportedly plans to expand its production portfolio in India by adding notebooks.
Mint quoted sources saying that Samsung planned to invest INR1-2 billion (US$12–24 million) to make up to 60,000–70,000 notebooks annually at its Noida manufacturing facility, Samsung's largest mobile phone manufacturing plant.
The rumor follows a similar rumor reported by Mint saying that Samsung was evaluating making telecom gear in India to reduce its reliance on geopolitically risky China. Chinese media MyDrivers reported that Samsung Display may have decided to halt production in China from the fourth quarter of the year.
However, it is important to highlight that Samsung participated in the 2022 round of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for networking and telecom products, but the company reportedly did not apply for the PLI scheme for IT hardware aimed at incentivizing manufacturing of notebooks, tablets, all-in-one PCs, and ultra-slim factor forms.
Mint quoted Navkendar Singh, associate vice-president at IDC India, saying that Samsung is a very small player in the PC and notebook industry, adding that although Samsung assembled tablets and smartphones in India, it is not feasible for Samsung to invest in notebook manufacturing at this point.
According to IDC, Samsung shipped over two million units of tablets and notebooks inthe past four quarters, most of which were tablets. Samsung has not been in the ranks of the top five brands in India in India's PC market. Still, in March 2022, Samsung India launched a series of notebooks in India, including Galaxy Book2 Pro 360, marking a comeback for the company in the South Asian market after a gap of eight years. Samsung was eyeing a double-digit market share by the end of 2022, which did not come to fruition.
Samsung product manufacturers in India | |
Product | Manufacturer |
TV | Radiant Appliances And Electronics; Samsung; Dixon |
Mobile phone | Dixon Technologies; Samsung |
Power banks for portable devices | Dixon Technologies |
Power Adapter for IT equipment | Salcomp; Elentec India, Dongyang Electric and Power India |
Smart watches | Samsung; Dixon |
Sealed secondary portable lithium system batteries | Navitasys; Elentec; Navitasys |
Tablet | Dixon Technologies; Wingtech; Samsung |
Wireless earphones | Dixon Technologies |
Source: BIS, compiled by DIGITIMES Asia, September 2023
