Proton Electronics to market 40-inch LCD TVs in Q3

Taipei, April 18, 2003 (CENS)--Proton Electronics Co. expects to market its newly developed 40-inch LCD (liquid crystal display) TVs in the third quarter, executives of the firm said yesterday.

Regarded as the largest of its kind from local makers, Proton's 40-inch LCD TVs will be sold at below NT$200,000 per unit. Samsung of South Korea debuted its 40-inch LCD TVs in the Taiwan market this week, with the price setting at NT$399,000 per unit.

Hung Min-chang, chairman of Proton Electronics, said that Taiwan's TV industry has owned the advantage in the development of LCD TVs, especially with the control of TFT-LCD (thin film transistor-liquid crystal display) panels and driving Ics, key components in LCD TVs. This, coupled with the support of R&D and distribution channels of home appliance and IT (information technology) , paves the way for a new era of the local TV industry, Hung said.

Proton is now available for its 18-, 20-, 32-, and 40-inch LCD TVs. The firm has displayed its LCD TVs in the 2003 Taipei Spring Electronics Exhibition, which opens today at Taipei World Trade Center.

Proton's 20-inch LCD TVs are sold at about NT$40,000 per unit, compared with some NT$100,000 per unit for its 30-inch models. Their prices are very competitive in comparison with the counterparts from both Japan and South Korea, Hung said.

Proton estimates to deliver between 10,000 and 20,000 LCD TVs in the local market in 2003. The firm expects its exports will grow significantly beginning in 2004.

In 2002, Proton raked in revenue of NT$2 billion. Its revenue is set at the target of between NT$3.5 billion and NT$4 billion for 2003.

Proton expects its revenue may have the opportunity to hit the target of NT$10 billion within three years.