22/11/2011
JCB to boost India sales
JCB aims to boost sales in India by 15 percent this year as it taps demand in the nationâs rural areas. The company plans to increase sales outlets in Indian villages after more than doubling its nationÂwide stores to 400 in four years, Vipin Sondhi, CEO, JCB India, said. The closely held company started selling a smaller version of its backhoe in May to fend off competition from local manufacturers. âWeâve no option as a country but to invest in infrastructure at all points in time,â Sondhi said. âAny infrastructure project requires earth to be moved in some form and thatâs the demand driver,â he added JCB sold 21,000 units of construction equipment last year in India. As much as 80 percent of the sales came from small family busiÂnesses that rent out backÂhoes and excavators, according to Amit Gossain, Vice President, Marketing.