Taiwanese PC maker Asustek Computer Inc (華碩) yesterday said that it is evaluating the possibility of seeking Taiwanese manufacturers to assemble its smartphone products in India as part of its efforts to expand its reach in the Indian smartphone market.
“There is a better chance of cooperating with Taiwanese manufacturers in India rather than working with local original equipment manufacturers,” Asustek acting spokesman Nick Wu (吳長榮) said by telephone.
Wu’s remarks came after Asustek India regional manager Peter Chang was quoted by media outlet BGR India as saying that the company is looking for a contract manufacturer in India to assemble its ZenFone smartphone series.
The acting spokesman said Asustek ships 200,000 smartphones to India each month, 10 percent of the firm’s global smartphone shipments, and the company foresees potential growth momentum in its smartphone business in the region.
India and China are the company’s third-largest smartphone market for revenue contribution, while Taiwan is the firm’s second-largest market by sales, Wu said.
Southeastern Asian nations — Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia — account for nearly 50 percent of Asustek’s total smartphone shipments, Wu said.
He said Asustek’s smartphones are currently manufactured in China, but the PC maker has been considering allocating some of those orders to India as the demand for smartphones in the region is growing.
As part of its efforts to expand the reach of the ZenFone series in India, Wu said Asustek chairman Jonney Shih (施崇棠) on Thursday will host a product launch to introduce three new smartphones to India.
Taiwanese manufacturers that have plants in India include iPhone and Xiaomi Inc (小米) assembler Hon Hai Precision Industry Co (鴻海精密), also known as Foxconn Technology Group (富士康), and contract computer and mobile device manufacturer Inventec Corp (英業達).
Last month, Foxconn started to manufacture Xiaomi’s smartphones in Sri City, India, while Inventec, another Xiaomi smartphone assembler, has also started producing Xiaomi smartphones in India.
Wu said Asustek would prefer a Taiwanese manufacturer to make its smartphones in India, as both companies would be based in Taiwan and the manufacturer would be more familiar than an Indian manufacturer.
“However, we have not yet finalized the details of the India manufacturing plan,” he added.
Asustek shares fell 1.72 percent to close at NT$285 in Taipei yesterday, underperforming the TAIEX, which gained 0.16 percent.
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