Affordable India-Made Laptops By Thomson-Sahasra May Soon Become Reality Under Govt's PLI Scheme

India’s production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme (PLI 2.0) for IT hardware manufacturing has just received a new boost as Sahasra Group, a newly approved government beneficiary based in Noida in Uttar Pradesh has secured its first order to produce laptops for the French electronics brand Thomson locally, the media has reported. This would mark the entry of affordable Microsoft Windows 11 laptops in the country, made by homegrown Sahasra Group, in collaboration with Thomson.

The company is set to introduce its range of laptops and tablets in the Indian market, in partnership with its local subsidiary Metavisio Computing India and has shortlisted distribution partners for the same, says a report by Economic Times.

Thomson is eyeing the entry-level laptop segment in India. At launch, the company’s primary emphasis will be on laptops priced below Rs 25,000, the report added.

“Deciding to take on this challenge to promote this familiar brand in the commercial sector that I know best was a natural choice. I am thrilled to start the business in India,” Stéphan Francais, president and chief executive, Thomson Computing was quoted as saying by the ET report.

Thomson Computing has joined hands with ANA Business Ventures for government and enterprise-focused distribution and partnered with Digital Compusystems for retail distribution. Additionally, its products will be accessible on major e-commerce platforms for online distribution.

To recall, homegrown contract manufacturer Dixon Technologies was exploring producing laptops within the country in collaboration with companies based in the US and China, under the government’s revised production linked investment (PLI) scheme 2.0, media reports said in September.

An ET Telecom report mentioned that Noida-headquartered Dixon is mulling to invest Rs 250 crore, in a bid to expand its local manufacturing and production facility. The homegrown company is likely in the advanced stages of talks with Lenovo and Hewlett-Packard (HP), to begin locally manufacturing laptops and meet targets under the Centre’s new PLI scheme.

India has been encouraging IT hardware manufacturers to manufacture devices locally.

Meanwhile, 44 international laptop and personal computer manufacturers applied for the government’s PLI 2.0 scheme for IT hardware, a few back ago. According to the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), 40 domestic and international firms are among the applicants under PLI 2.0. The government approved the PLI scheme 2.0 for IT hardware with a budgetary outlay of Rs 17,000 crore in May, with an aim to give a push to domestic manufacturing of laptops, PCs and ultra-small devices.