Samsung to Manufacture Laptops at Noida Plant in India Starting in 2024

Samsung has announced that it is working towards manufacturing laptops at its Noida facility in India. The news was reported by PTI, based on statements made by TM Roh, President and head of Mobile Experience Business, Samsung Electronics during a visit to India this week. The move comes as the Government of India continues to incentivise local manufacturing and assembly in the electronics sector. In late August last year, the government had announced it would impose a licence requirement for companies to import laptops, among other product categories. At the time, Samsung was one of several companies widely reported to have immediately halted imports, although the requirements were largely dropped shortly thereafter.

According to TM Roh, India is already Samsung’s second-largest manufacturing location, after South Korea. Some optimisations to the Noida facility are needed before laptops will begin rolling out on a large scale, but that will happen this year, he said. This highlights India’s growing significance to Samsung as a manufacturing hub. It is likely that laptops will be produced here for export as well as sales within India.

Samsung currently manufactures smartphones, feature phones, tablets, and wearables in India. The company also operates an R&D Institute and its Samsung Design division at its Noida campus.

During his visit, TM Roh is also reported to have commented on Samsung’s declining smartphone exports in 2023, which he attributed to a global slowdown in demand. However, the market should bounce back this year, thanks to growth in the premium and high-end segments. Samsung is confident that its Galaxy AI features will drive demand for the recently launched Galaxy S24 series, and will reach 100 million smartphone users this year.