Eyeing a bigger share of the market ahead of the summers, consumer durables companies have lined up a string of launches such as air conditioners and refrigerators.

While LG Electronics has already introduced a range of frost-free refrigerators last month and is set to launch air conditioners with an aim to post 20% growth this summer, Samsung India is eyeing 50% growth in AC volumes and 25% market share in the category with its recently launched 2009 bio-sleepus range.

?Around 55 lakh government employees will get the second part of their arrears in 2009-10 which will increase their disposable income and a good part of it is expected to be spent on refrigerators and air conditioners as we expect to have an extended summer this time,? said Kamal Nandi, vice-president, Godrej Appliances.

According to Nandi, refrigerators and air conditioners in India have a very low level of penetration ? the figure is just 3% for air conditioners and 18% for refrigerators ? and these will be the prime drivers for growth. This has prompted Godrej to target 30% growth in sales of air conditioners at around 2.8 lakh to 3 lakh units in 2009-10 vis-?-vis 2 lakh units that the company expects to sell till March. The company is planning to introduce a whole new range of frost-free refrigerators and air conditioners in early March.

Likewise, LG Electronics, which has already unveiled its new range of frost-free refrigerators and will soon come up with new ACs, is eyeing 20% growth this financial year, mainly on the back of design and style of its upcoming models, according to V Ramachandran, director, LG Electronics.

Ditto for Samsung India. The company is targeting the number one slot in the frost-free segment this year and expects to retain its market leadership position in the hi-end side-by-side refrigerator category. This is over and above the high growth targets that the company has set for air conditioners after launch of the new range.

According to an industry expert, last year, particularly May, was bad for the air conditioner market as the rains arrived early. Consequently, this year?s growth will be on a lower base, he added.