Date:15/02/2007 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/02/15/stories/2007021504931300.htm

Back Titan to launch Aviator

ACTOR RAHUL BOSE

Pune, Feb. 14

Titan is to launch its Aviator collection of watches next week, while the company's new assembly plant for wristwatches at Roorkee is slated to commission in April.

Speaking here during the launch of its premium segment offering Xylys in the city recently, Mr K.S. Ghai, Head, Sales, Titan Industries Ltd, said the company would raise production capacity by 25 per cent from the current eight million watches once the Roorkee plant, the company's fifth facility in India, becomes operational. The product was launched by brand ambassador and actor Rahul Bose.

Aviator designed by Neil Foley will be in the Rs 4,000-8,000 price band, and would strengthen the company's presence in a segment that is valued at around Rs 250-300 crore. Xylys brand that is manufactured in Switzerland has a presence in eight cities. It is Titan Industries' first step into the premium (Rs 10,000-40,000) segment. With annual growth in this sector pegged at 25 per cent, Xylys is expected to close the year with countrywide sales of Rs 11 crore. The company is targeting 15 per cent of the market share of the Rs 140-crore strong segment from this offering. Titan, which is one of the three watch-making business units under Titan Industries' banner, had a sales turnover of Rs 450 crore for the 2005-06 fiscal.