The Director of Jaquar Lighting says that customers are now increasingly seeking complete lighting ecosystems from a single brand
India’s lighting industry is evolving beyond basic LED products as demand shifts towards design, automation and end-to-end solutions, with customers increasingly seeking complete lighting ecosystems from a single brand, said Ranbir Mehra, Director, Jaquar Lighting. Mehra noted that lighting is no longer viewed merely as a commodity, with growing consumer awareness driving demand for architectural, landscape, facade and decorative lighting, while commercial projects continue to prioritise energy efficiency, performance and application-led solutions.
In an interview with BW Retail World, Mehra stated that to support this shift, the company is investing over Rs 100 crore in a new manufacturing facility in Bhiwadi to expand production capacity, with a major focus on increasing in-house manufacturing of decorative lighting and the production of lighting poles. Mehra added that the company is also scaling its outdoor, landscape, facade and architectural lighting portfolio, while leveraging the Jaquar Group’s bath distribution network alongside dedicated lighting channels.
On the export front, the brand is currently focused on the United Arab Emirates UAE and Africa, with plans to enter additional markets only after expanding capacity, as it targets to grow its lighting business from around Rs 700 crore to Rs 1,600 to 1,700 crore over the next three years.
From Products To End-to-end Lighting Solutions
Jaquar Lighting is expanding beyond conventional lighting products as customers increasingly seek integrated solutions from a single brand. “Our taglines also say that we are a complete lighting solutions brand. We have been providing solutions from the very beginning,” Mehra said, adding that consumers today “demand the whole solution to come from one brand itself,” prompting the company to expand its portfolio across outdoor, landscape and other segments.
Highlighting the company’s evolution, he noted, “Now we have got landscape, outdoor, facade, indoor, architectural, everything,” he said. “We also launched our own automation systems as well. We are now providing complete end-to-end solutions when it comes to automation… Everything is there with us now.” He added that the company’s role extends “right from the design to execution and after maintenance” of facade lighting projects, saying, “Solution is in our nature.”
The company is also preparing for a larger play in infrastructure-focused lighting. Mehra said that the company plans to invest in a lighting poles factory as road construction and infrastructure development gather pace. “We see the amount of roads being now constructed and the development and the growth which our country is seeing,” he said. “I feel that now it would be the right time for us to enter into this category and explore it in a bigger way.”
Commercial Segment To Drive Growth
Mehra expects commercial lighting to contribute the largest share of Jaquar Lighting’s targeted growth to Rs 1,600 to 1,700 crore over the next three years, supported by infrastructure and real estate expansion. “Our biggest chunk largely comes from commercial,” he remarked, citing outdoor and indoor lighting, while adding that growth will also come from the consumer business as Jaquar’s bathroom network deepens its lighting penetration.
While exports are expected to maintain “the same double-digit growth”, Mehra stressed that India remains the company’s primary focus. He attributed the ongoing capacity expansion to strong domestic demand, noting, “We are running out of our capacity,” and expressed confidence that the company could “not only hit that figure, we might even surpass that figure” given its current order pipeline.
Reflecting on the industry’s evolution, Mehra argued that lighting has moved well beyond being a commodity. “Lighting actually makes or breaks a place these days,” he observed, adding, “I do not feel that it is just a commodity anymore.” As consumer awareness grows, demand is shifting towards downlighters, decorative, facade and application-based lighting, while Jaquar is investing in experience centres and education initiatives to accelerate that transition.
The Make-in-India Push
Mehra believes India’s lighting manufacturing ecosystem has made significant progress, with only a few critical components still dependent on imports. “Things have already started to move… there are very few things which are left now,” he observed, pointing to LED chips as one of the remaining gaps. “Everything is now available in India… a lot of OEM and small part manufacturers are now available through which you can actually complete your product,” he noted, adding that he expects the remaining dependence on overseas markets to narrow “in the near future.”
He also pointed to the country’s infrastructure build-out as a key demand driver for the lighting industry. According to Mehra, government and institutional projects have remained a priority for Jaquar Lighting “from the very beginning”, with a dedicated team focused on the segment. “We have got the product portfolio to cater to almost any or every project which is being done in the country,” he remarked, referring to opportunities emerging from airports, metro rail, highways and other large-scale infrastructure developments.
Premium Lighting Demand
Premiumisation is playing out differently across end-user segments, with design emerging as the biggest differentiator in homes and hospitality, while commercial projects continue to prioritise efficiency and performance. “We are seeing the growth everywhere,” Mehra emphasised. “Houses and hospitality… go firstly towards the design of the product,” whereas “commercial spaces or a mall… like to go for an energy-efficient product first and design could be a second aspect.” He added that customers at the premium end are also increasingly “sustainability-driven”, while commercial buyers focus on “high quality, ruggedness of the product with the sustainability.”
Beyond products, Mehra highlighted the company’s planning-led approach to lighting projects. He explained that Jaquar has a dedicated lighting planning division that visits sites across residential, hospitality and commercial projects to determine the optimal number of fixtures. “A good-looking product has to work because it’s a functional product,” he remarked, adding that the exercise helps reduce excess fixtures while ensuring “the right results.”
The company is also working more closely with architects and lighting consultants as lighting becomes increasingly application-driven. Mehra noted that Jaquar is collaborating with “a lot of lighting consultants across the country” and product designers to develop new offerings, while facilitating conversations between architects, builders and consultants.
Expanding Capacity Before Scaling Global Footprint
Jaquar Lighting is leveraging both its established bathroom network and dedicated lighting channels to expand its reach across segments. Mehra explained that while high-volume products such as bulbs, downlights and panels are distributed through a wider lighting network, premium categories like outdoor, facade and landscape lighting are increasingly reaching customers through Jaquar’s bath dealers as well.
“We are utilising the broader distribution of the bathroom products,” he explained, adding, “We are the only brand in the world to offer complete lighting and complete bathroom solution.” As a result, customers can fulfil “the whole bathroom and lighting needs” at one location. On quick commerce, however, he noted that the company has “just started to explore that segment” and that “it is just the beginning.”
On the manufacturing front, Mehra indicated that capacity expansion remains the immediate priority. “We run out in terms of capacity,” he remarked, adding that the new facility will primarily focus on expanding production while strengthening in-house capabilities for decorative lighting. “The major focus is on increasing the capacity,” he said, with additional machinery being installed to manufacture more decorative fixtures internally.
While exports remain a long-term growth pillar, the company is prioritising supply readiness before entering new geographies. “We are just focusing on the UAE market and the African market” at present, Mehra noted, adding that the company could evaluate additional markets “in a year or so” once production stabilises. Stressing that lighting exports require country-specific certifications, he observed, “Going out and not being able to supply would be a risk.”
