Panasonic, Tata Elexi to Set Up R&D unit in Bengaluru

Consumer electronic major Panasonic said it will set up R&D unit in Bengaluru in association with Tata Elexi to strengthen its appliances business in domestic and global markets.

The new R&D center will develop technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics from India for its global operations and also help in product designing in local product manufacturing, the company said in a statement.

The Indian R&D establishment will have two centers - a Design Division, which would be based at Panasonic's Jhajjar unit and one Offshore Development Division based at Bengaluru, it added.

"The launch of the R&D centre in Bengaluru aims to grow Panasonic's business in the ISAMEA (India, South Asia, Middle East and Africa) region with a medium and long-term strategic view," President of Appliances Company & Senior MD, Panasonic Corporation, Tetsuro Homma said.

He further said: "The new R&D Centre will accelerate Panasonic product innovations in newer categories and will help the appliances industry in its growth."

Its Jhajjar unit will focus on factory engineering, product design and QC function for products such as airconditioner, washing machine, refrigerators, while Bangalore will develop technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics for domestic and global markets.

"Robotic household appliances, work assist systems, interactive and machine technology have already been a part of the shelves of Panasonic's Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based innovations and now the company will aggressively be focusing on driving R&D in India on this platform.

Through artificial intelligence, home appliance will be able to improve its utility and performance for individual users over time, based on the data that it gathers through the individual consumer's daily usage habits and patterns," Panasonic said.

Panasonic is associated with Tata Elexi, an integrated design and technology services provider.

Panasonic had recently launched its first refrigerator plant at Jhajjar by investing Rs 115 crore. The operations will begin from January 2018 and sales for the same will commence from April 2018 in India.