Sony aims to double India mobile sales, plans to launch 30 models this year

Japanese electronics giant Sony is aiming to double its mobile handset sales to 4 million units in India this fiscal as a part of its efforts to touch Rs 5,500 crore turnover. The Japanese company had sold 2 million handsets in FY 2013-14. It aims to double its sales this year and will expand its distribution network, Sachin Rai, Deputy General Manager, Sales & Marketing (Mobile Division) of Sony India, said. Addressing a press conference to mark the launch of Sony's latest high-end smartphone, the Xperia Z2, priced at Rs 49,990, Rai said the turnover in FY 2013-14 stood at Rs 3,000 crore and the company is looking at Rs 5,500 crore turnover this year. "We plan to sell four million (mobile phone) units this year. We will expand our distribution network from 8,000 to 12,000," he said, adding, this would include 500 exclusive Xperia Lounge stores. Sony will come out with 30 new mobile phone models this year, he added. These can be assumed to be priced across segments, with an emphasis on the mid-range segment. The company enjoyed a market share of 10 per cent in terms of value in FY 2013-14 in the mobile phone segment, and looking to grow "drastically" in the current fiscal, he said. PTI