Nokia India Production Touches 500 Million Handsets

Nokia India has announced that its manufacturing facility at Sriperumbudur, Chennai has crossed production of 500 million handsets, marking a significant milestone for the company's manufacturing operations in India and globally. The milestone was achieved in five years of its operations, marking Chennai's ramp-up among the fastest globally.

"This is a very special milestone for Nokia's Chennai manufacturing facility and we thank our employees for all their hard work and dedication. We have created a unique record across the world "“ this is not only a proud moment for us at Nokia, but a major highlight in India's young and rising electronics manufacturing industry. This achievement only proves that with the right kind of organisation focus, employee contribution and government support, India can deliver world-class manufacturing standards and set new benchmarks", said Prakash Katama, director , Chennai Factory Operations, Nokia India.

"With this milestone, our India facility's proven record of quality and fast time-to-market abilities will be strengths for Nokia to leverage in future as well. The handsets manufactured here go to over 100 countries covering six continents", Katama added.

As part of its celebrations, Nokia today announced that the 500th million phone a Nokia C3-00 will be specially autographed by Nokia's brand ambassador Shahrukh Khan, and be available for auction to consumers through Nokia

Nokia will match the amount raised through the auction, and the total proceeds will be donated by Nokia to a charity. The auction will begin today and end on 15th May 2011. Besides becoming the proud owner of the specially endorsed milestone phone, Nokia will also host the highest bidder to watch the IPL 4 cricket match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians in Kolkata on May 22, 2011. The winner will personally receive the 500th million device from Shahrukh Khan.

Nokia also announced today that all the employees at its Chennai manufacturing facility will be gifted with a Nokia C3-00 as a gesture of appreciation for contributing towards achieving this milestone.

Nokia's Chennai manufacturing facility is recognised as a catalyst to the development of electronics manufacturing in the Chennai region, and a key catalyst to mobile handsets manufacturing in India. Nokia was the first global telecom company to setup a plant in India to produce mobile phones, by starting the Chennai facility in January, 2006.

Nokia's Chennai plant crossed 1 million handsets production in March, 2006. Initially aimed to serve the needs of the rapidly growing Indian market, approximately 50 percent of the current production today is consumed domestically and the rest is exported to 100 countries including the Middle East and Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, North America and Europe.