LG starts local production of smartphones, launches K series

South Korean electronics major LG on Thursday announced its Make-in-India or local manufacturing plans for its smartphones business.

The company had earlier said that it would only start local assembly of smartphones as soon as it claims 10 percent of the entire smartphone market in the country. The manufacturing plan, which includes an research and development (R&D) centre in Bengaluru, an in-house design team in New Delhi and the production facility at Noida, will take the number of LG units produced in the country to about a million devices anually.

"We have initiated our first manufacturing line which can be scaled up to about a minimum of 200,000 phones a month. However, basis the consumers demand we have the capability to increase the scale as needed," an LG spokesperson said adding that a strength of 300 people was dedicated on the manufacturing line.

Other than the Noida smartphones unit, the company owns two other manufacturing where it produces refrigerators and air conditioners. It has already in the process of investing ₹1,000 crore in various R&D projects and has a team of 1,000 software engineers at the Bengaluru centre.

Along with the announcement of the manufacturing plant, the company also launched a new series of budget smartphones - K series - locally made in the country. The series currently consists of two smartphones -- K10 and K7 -- priced at ₹13,500 and ₹9,500 respectively.

"India is a strategic market for LG globally and the decision to manufacture smartphones in India underscores our commitment to our customers here. We want to tap the huge potential for smartphones in the country and the K-series will be the first ones to be manufactured in India," Kim Ki-Wan, managing director, LG Electronics India, said adding that nearly six to eight models of smartphones will be made in the new facility in the next six months.

While the K10 will come with a 5.3-inch display, Qualcomm 410 processor, 13-megapixel rear and 8-megapixel front camera, the K7 will sport

a 5-inch display, Qualcomm 210 processor and a five-megapixel rear and front camera. The K10 will have a 2 GB RAM and 16 GB internal memory along with a 2,300 mAH battery.

The K7 will come with a 1.5 GB RAM unit, 8 GB internal memory and will draw power from a 2,125 mAH battery.