LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, third from left, inspects an air conditioner production line at LG Electronics' Noida plant in New Delhi, India, in this handout photo released, Tuesday. Courtesy of LG Corp.
By Nam Hyun-woo
LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo highlighted the competitive edge of LG companies over their Chinese rivals during his recent visit to India, noting that the next few years will be “a critical period” for LG units to differentiate themselves in the key market.
LG Corp., the group’s holding company, said Tuesday Koo toured LG’s outposts in New Delhi and the city of Bengaluru for four days from Feb. 24, where he met with local employees to explore strategies for the Indian market.
At LG Electronics’ production facility in the city of Noida, Koo discussed strategies for the company’s local production and distribution network, inspecting home appliance production lines including refrigerators, washing machines and air conditioners.
Koo also inspected the local retailing environment, including LG brand shops and major retail chains, and collected feedback on products tailored to Indian consumer needs.
“The next few years will be crucial in determining how we can differentiate ourselves in the Indian market and stay ahead of our competitors,” Koo said. “We are now slightly ahead of our competitors, and this is the critical period for us to ensure a sustainable leadership. Based on our deep understanding of local customers and markets, we should make a leap toward the next 30 years of leadership.”
Since entering the Indian market in 1997, LG Electronics has been enhancing its commitment to the market, with top executives often saying, “We want to be the national brand in India.”
The company has been expanding its Indian presence by introducing products tailored to the local environment, such as an air conditioner that repels mosquitoes using an ultrasound and a refrigerator that maintains cold temperatures for up to seven hours during power outages.
LG Electronics operates manufacturing facilities in Noida and Pune and is discussing plans to establish a new production site in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh to meet increasing market demand.
LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, second from right, speaks to other employees during his visit to LG Soft India in Bengaluru in this handout photo released on Tuesday. Courtesy of LG Corp.
Koo also visited LG Soft India, the group’s largest overseas software research center located in Bengaluru. The research and development (R&D) center houses over 2,000 developers working on the development of LG’s webOS platform, automotive solutions and next-generation technologies.
During his visit, Koo highlighted the importance of collaboration with R&D centers in India and urged researchers to focus on enhancing LG’s software competitiveness. “The rapid pace of software technology innovation and increasing challenges in securing R&D talents makes India’s role increasingly vital,” he said. “With nearly 30 years of accumulated research expertise, we should continue to enhance and differentiate our software capabilities.”
The research center opened in 1996 as the group’s first outpost in India, followed by expansions from LG Chem in 1996, LG Electronics in 1997 and LG Energy Solution in 2023. Along with LG Electronics, LG Group plans to continue its investments in the battery, chemical and energy sectors. LG Chem launched a new plant in India earlier this year, while LG Energy Solution is working on strategies tailored to the Indian battery market, LG Corp. said.
“India is not just a key market for LG but also a land of immense opportunity for global companies,” Koo said. “Leveraging our deep understanding of customers and our strong market position, we will seek to collaborate with the people of India to become the nation’s most trusted brand and drive our growth for the next era.”
Following his four-day stay in India, Koo also visited Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to review the group’s businesses in the Middle East and Africa.
English (United States) ·