Chinese car multimedia maker CASKA to set up R&D centre in India

Kolkata, April 19 (IANS) Car multimedia systems manufacturer CASKA, owned by China-based Coagent Electronics S&T Co, is planning to set up a research and development (R&D) centre either in Chennai or Bangalore by June, a company official said Thursday.

The company is in talks with Indian automakers for tie-ups for its products.

"The demand for high-end car entertainment solutions is on the rise globally, including India. We plant to setup a R&D facility in the country to design our products as per the requirements of the Indian market," the company's sales director, Kaiser Zheng, said here.

Kaiser said the centre was likely to come up by June either at Chennai or Bangalore.

The company launched its latest series of car multimedia system- CASKA E-Car in association with its Indian partner Auto Trendz Thursday, was also in talks with Indian carmakers for tie-ups for its latest product.

"We are already in the process of tying up with companies like General Motors (India), Hyundai India and Maruti for approving the CASKA range of products and are also in the process of developing our products as per the demands of the manufacturers," said Neeraj Banka, director, Auto Trendz, the sole agent for the Guangdong-based coagent electronics.

The company with its 30 distributors and 300 dealers of its Indian partner targets to sell 20,000 units of its latest range by December 2012.

"The car infotainment industry is valued at Rs. 500 crore onwards and with this launch we aim to gather 20 percent market share in the organised segment in India by December (2012) end," Banka added.