Compared to other Japanese companies, don’t you think Daikin has a comparatively modest presence in public consciousness?
Not really. As your question puts it, the “modest presence in public consciousness” had more to do with the fact that till few years back, Daikin was only manufacturing commercial ACs and chillers in the country, while importing significant nos of residential ACs from Thailand and Japan.
Daikin began manufacturing residential ACs at its Neemrana plant in Rajasthan in 2012. Within three years, we have emerged as the fastest growing AC player in the residential segment.
What was the trigger behind the change of strategy from commercial to residential ACs? Was it the slow movement that was felt in the commercial category?
To use your phrase once again, there was no “slow movement felt in the commercial category”.