Whirlpool invests over Rs 245 crore to expand refrigerator manufacturing capacity in India

Whirlpool of India has expanded its refrigerator manufacturing capacity with the inauguration of a new production line at its Pune facility, investing more than Rs 245 crore as the appliance maker looks to tap growing demand for premium and larger-capacity refrigerators.

The new production line at the company's Rajnangaon plant increases the facility's annual production capacity to 3.4 million units and will enable local manufacturing of large-capacity refrigerators, a segment that has been seeing higher demand from Indian consumers. The company said the expansion is also expected to create more than 750 jobs over time.

The investment comes as appliance makers increasingly focus on premium products amid rising household incomes and changing consumer preferences. Larger refrigerators, offering higher storage capacity and advanced cooling technologies, have become one of the faster-growing segments within the home appliance market.


"Our expectation is that demand for large appliances will continue to rise, particularly at the premium end," Narasimhan Eswar, Managing Director of Whirlpool of India, said. He added that strengthening local manufacturing would help the company meet future demand while expanding its premium refrigerator portfolio.

The new production line has been equipped with higher levels of automation and manufacturing technologies that the company says will improve production efficiency and product quality while increasing flexibility to manufacture larger refrigerator models.

The Pune expansion is part of Whirlpool India's broader manufacturing strategy. The company already operates manufacturing facilities in Faridabad, Puducherry and Pune, and said it will continue investing in domestic production capabilities as it expands its premium appliance portfolio.

The move also aligns with the government's push to increase domestic manufacturing under the Make in India initiative, with companies across the consumer electronics and home appliance sectors announcing fresh investments in local production over the past few years.

Whirlpool said expanding local manufacturing would help it respond more quickly to changing consumer demand while strengthening its long-term manufacturing footprint in India.