Lava Unveils 'Design in India' Initiative, to Launch First Phone in October 2018

Domestic mobile manufacturer Lava on Tuesday launched its "Design in India" initiative, and announced its first mobile phone that is completely designed and manufactured in the country. Called the PRIME X, it will be priced at Rs. 1,499, and is aimed at offering a standby battery tie of 17 days. The company is touting the phone's reliability, and will offer a 2-year replacement warranty when it is launched in October 2018.

Speaking on the occasion, Hari Om Rai, Chairman & Managing Director, Lava International said, "The Design in India initiative is one of the most significant milestones towards achieving our country's vision of making India a global hub for mobile phone manufacturing."

"Our approach has led to setting up of 108 mobile manufacturing units in the country in the last three years. 'Design in India' is a key milestone in that direction," Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters at the event.

As we mentioned, Lava aims to launch the first Designed in India smartphone - PRIME X - by October, and the entire range of mobiles by 2021.

Union Minister of State for Communications Manoj Sinha said that the government aims to create 100 million jobs by 2022.

"Initiatives like 'Make in India' and 'Design in India' will play a vital role in creating jobs for a young and large country like ours," Sinha added.

In 2016, Lava set up its design centre in Noida. The design team received training in industrial, mechanical, hardware and software design for over a year in China.

"'Design in India' is a critical step towards building the mobile components and parts ecosystem in the country. Over the last six years, Lava has built its capability and expertise in mobile design which led to 'Design in India," said Hari Om Rai, Chairman and Managing Director, LAVA International.

Written with inputs from IANS