Long before air conditioning became commonplace in Indian homes, the humble ceiling fan was doing the heavy lifting through Mumbai’s humid summers, and it still is in the vast majority of the city’s homes and offices today. 

Mumbai has a particularly strong connection to this industry — several of India’s biggest electrical brands were either founded in the city or built their manufacturing and trading roots here, well before “Made in India” became a marketing slogan.

The article provides a brief description of the top 10 fan brands based on their founding year, owner, what they do, and the products they provide.

Quick Overview

Rank	Brand	Founded	Owner / Founders	Headquarters	Core Business
1	Crompton	1937	Publicly listed, professionally managed	Mumbai	Fans, Lighting, Appliances
2	Bajaj Electricals	1938	Founded by Kamalnayan Bajaj; part of the Bajaj Group	Mumbai	Fans, Lighting, Appliances
3	Anchor by Panasonic	1963	Founded by D.L. Shah & J.L. Shah; owned by Panasonic Corporation (since 2007)	Mumbai	Switches, Fans, Wiring Devices
4	Polycab India	1964	Founded by Thakurdas Jaisinghani; Jaisinghani family	Mumbai	Wires, Cables, Fans, FMEG
5	Atomberg Technologies	2012	Manoj Meena & Sibabrata Das	Mumbai	Energy-Efficient BLDC Fans
6	Havells India	1958	Founded by Qimat Rai Gupta; Gupta family	Noida	Fans, Cables, Appliances
7	Orient Electric	1954	Part of the CK Birla Group	Kolkata	Fans, Lighting, Appliances
8	Usha International	1934	Part of the Shriram Group	Gurugram	Fans, Sewing Machines, Appliances
9	V-Guard Industries	1977	Kochouseph Chittilappilly (Founder)	Kochi	Fans, Stabilizers, Cables, Pumps
10	Luminous	1988	Founded by Rakesh Malhotra; Schneider Electric (74% owner)	Gurugram	Inverters, Batteries, Fans

1. Crompton – A Mumbai-founded legend synonymous with Fans

Details	Information
Founded	1937 (Crompton Parkinson Works Limited)
Owners	Publicly listed on the BSE and NSE; professionally managed with no promoter-group domination
Headquarters	Mumbai, Maharashtra

Crompton’s history traces back to 1937, when it was established as a wholly-owned Indian subsidiary of Crompton Parkinson, based in the UK. It was subsequently bought by Indian industrialist Karam Chand Thapar in 1947. 

Following the demerger of Crompton Greaves Limited in 2016, the consumer electricals business was rechristened as Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals, with Crompton resuming its position as one of India’s largest players in the fan market.

What it does: Makes and sells electrical consumer durables for the home, with fans being one of its core product categories.

Products: Ceiling, table, and pedestal fans, LED products, water pumps, and home appliances like water heaters and air coolers.

2. Bajaj Electricals – Part of Mumbai’s Bajaj Group Legacy

Details	Information
Founded	July 14, 1938
Owner	Founded by Kamalnayan Bajaj, part of the Bajaj Group; Shekhar Bajaj is the Executive Chairman
HQ	Mumbai, Maharashtra

Bajaj Electricals traces its roots to the Bajaj Group, one of India’s oldest business conglomerates, with the fan business launched by the group’s founder Kamalnayan Bajaj in 1938. 

The company has built a reputation for durable, reliable fans and appliances that are ideally suited to the Indian climate, along with its extensive business in lighting solutions and engineering and project management services.

What it does: Makes and sells consumer electrical appliances, lighting products, and engineering and infrastructure development solutions.

Products: Ceiling and table fans, lighting products, home appliances like electric irons and mixers, and engineering and project management services under the EPC business division.

3. Anchor by Panasonic – A Mumbai Original Now Under Japanese Ownership

Details	Information
Founded	1963 (Anchor Electricals)
Owner	Founded by D.L. Shah and J.L. Shah, Panasonic Corporation of Japan (since 2007)
HQ	Mumbai, Maharashtra

This Mumbai-based company was founded in 1963 by D.L Shah and J.L Shah and initially sold electrical accessories, including its iconic Piano Switch. 

The brand was acquired by Panasonic of Japan in 2007 for around $650 million, the then-largest-ever acquisition in India by a Japanese company, and continues to be run from its Mumbai HQ as Anchor by Panasonic.

What it does: Makes electrical switches, wiring devices, fans, and other electrical appliances.

Products: Modular and non-modular switches, ceiling and wall fans, LED lighting, and low-voltage electrical switchgear and cables.

4. Polycab India – Built From a Small Mumbai Electrical Shop

Details	Information
Founded	1964
Owner	Founded by Thakurdas Jaisinghani (Sind Electric Stores), Jaisinghani family
HQ	Mumbai, Maharashtra

Polycab traces its roots to Sind Electric Stores, set up by Thakurdas Jaisinghani in the city’s Lohar Chawl market in 1964. 

The business was later expanded by his sons, who laid the foundation for the current Polycab India as the country’s largest manufacturer of wires and cables. In addition to its core wire and cable business, the company sells a wide range of FMEG or Fast Moving Electrical Goods, including fans.

What it does: Makes and sells wires and cables, and a wide range of fast-moving electrical goods.

Products: Ceiling, table, and exhaust fans, wires and cables, LED lighting, switches and switchgear, and solar and water heating appliances.

5. Atomberg Technologies – Mumbai’s Energy-Efficient Fan Disruptor

Details	Information
Founded	2012
Owner	Founded by Manoj Meena and Sibabrata Das
HQ	Mumbai, Maharashtra

This young Mumbai-based company was founded in 2012 by IIT Bombay alumni Manoj Meena and Sibabrata Das, who initially got involved in Atomberg technology consulting before realizing the need for a more energy-efficient fan in the market. 

Having identified that conventional induction motor fans wasted around 65% of the electricity they consumed, Atomberg pioneered the sale of fans with BLDC or Brushless DC Motor technology in India, a segment where it continues to compete with some of the established firms.

What it does: Designs and develops energy-efficient smart home appliances, with BLDC ceiling fans being its main product category.

Products: BLDC ceiling and smart fans, mixer grinders, water purifiers, and smart locks.

6. Havells India – A Fan and Electricals Major With Deep Mumbai Retail Reach

Details	Information
Founded	1958 (as Guptaji & Company)
Owner	Founded by Qimat Rai Gupta, privately owned, currently led by Anil Rai Gupta (Chairman and Managing Director)
HQ	Noida, Uttar Pradesh (Strong retail presence in Mumbai)

Havells began its journey in 1958 when founder Qimat Rai Gupta launched his electrical trading venture, later buying the rights to the Havells brand from another struggling electrical goods manufacturer. 

Today, Havells is one of India’s largest electrical equipment manufacturers, with a significant business in fans, extensive retail networks, and a strong presence in Mumbai in particular.

What it does: Makes and sells electrical equipment, including a wide range of fans.

Products: Ceiling, table, and pedestal fans, switches and switchgear, and wires and cables, in addition to home and kitchen appliances.

7. Orient Electric – A Trusted Fan Brand Under the CK Birla Group

Details	Information
Founded	1954
Owner	CK Birla Group
HQ	Kolkata, West Bengal (Strong retail presence in Mumbai)

This Kolkata-based company was founded in 1954 and went on to become one of India’s most recognizable fan brands, with its products sold by a wide network of retailers across Mumbai. 

Orient Electric pioneered the use of BLDC technology in the mass-market fan segment, competing with other established firms like Crompton and Bajaj Electricals and more recent entrants like Atomberg Technologies.

What it does: Makes and sells fans, lighting, and home appliances.

Products: Ceiling, table, and exhaust fans, LED lighting, air coolers, and small home appliances.

8. Usha International – India’s Oldest Fan Brand

Details	Information
Founded	1934
Owner	Shriram Group
HQ	Gurugram, Haryana (Strong retail presence in Mumbai)

Usha has an unmatched claim to being India’s oldest fan brand, as it has been around since 1934. 

It is notable for being one of the first Indian companies to manufacture sewing machines in addition to fans and for having a strong presence in Mumbai’s retail space even today, having competed with other local brands that have since disappeared.

What it does: Makes and sells fans and other electrical appliances.

Products: Ceiling, table, and pedestal fans, sewing machines, water heaters, and home appliances.

9. V-Guard Industries – A South Indian Electricals Major With National Reach

Details	Information
Founded	1977
Owner	Kochouseph Chittilappilly (Founder and Chairperson)
HQ	Kochi, Kerala (Strong retail presence in Mumbai)

V-Guard traces its roots to a small voltage stabilizer manufacturing unit set up by Kochouseph Chittilappilly in Kochi in 1977 with borrowed funds. 

Today, the company is a major electrical goods manufacturer and supplier with a nationwide retail footprint, including a strong presence in Mumbai. The company has expanded its product portfolio to include a wide range of electrical, electronic, and consumer durable products, including fans.

What it does: Makes and sells electrical, electronic, and consumer durable products, including fans.

Products: Ceiling and table fans, voltage stabilizers, electrical wiring, water heaters, and pumps.

10. Luminous – Best Known for Power Backup, Now a Fan Player Too

Details	Information
Founded	1988
Owner	Founded by Rakesh Malhotra, with 74% owned by Schneider Electric
HQ	Gurugram, Haryana (Strong retail presence in Mumbai)

Luminous was founded in 1988 by Rakesh Malhotra. Backed by the distribution network of its parent company, it built a brand around power backup products like inverters and batteries, which were in high demand due to the inconsistent power supply situation in India. 

However, the French energy major owns a 74% stake in the company and has since expanded its product footprint to include fans under the Luminous brand.

What it does: Offers power backup solutions, home electrical products, and consumer appliances including fans.

Products: Inverters and batteries, solar power systems, ceiling and table fans, and home electrical accessories.

FAQs

1. Which fan brands on this list are actually headquartered in Mumbai?

Crompton, Bajaj Electricals, Anchor by Panasonic, Polycab India, and Atomberg Technologies are headquartered in Mumbai, while the others are headquartered elsewhere but have a significant presence in this western city.

2. Which is the oldest fan brand on this list?

Usha International, with its origins tracing back to 1934, is the oldest fan brand on this list and one of the oldest in India.

3. Which fan brand is best known for energy-efficient BLDC technology?

Atomberg Technologies was one of the first companies to introduce affordable fans with BLDC or Brushless DC Motor technology, allowing them to cut down on electricity consumption by up to 65%. Other companies on this list, including Orient Electric and Crompton, also offer energy-efficient fans with similar technology.

4. Which fan brand was founded in Mumbai and later acquired by a foreign multinational?

Anchor Electricals was founded in Mumbai in 1963 and was acquired by Panasonic of Japan in 2007. It continues to operate as Anchor by Panasonic from its Mumbai HQ.

5. Which fan brand is part of the Bajaj Group?

Bajaj Electricals, the consumer electricals brand of the Bajaj Group, was founded in Mumbai in 1938 by industrialist Kamalnayan Bajaj.

6. What does BLDC mean, and why does it matter for fans?

BLDC stands for Brushless Direct Current, and it is a type of motor used in fans that allows them to reduce electricity consumption by up to 65% compared to conventional induction-motor fans. They also tend to be significantly quieter.

7. Which fan brands on this list are part of larger business conglomerates?

Orient Electric is part of the CK Birla Group, while Usha International is part of the Shriram Group. Bajaj Electricals, on the other hand, is a part of the Bajaj Group.

8. Which company built its fan business alongside a wires and cables business?

Polycab India and Havells India are the two companies on this list that built their fan businesses alongside a much larger business in wires and cables.

9. Is Luminous primarily known as a fan brand?

Luminous is primarily known as a power backup brand, offering products such as inverters and batteries, with the company expanding its product footprint to include fans and other consumer electricals.

10. Why does Mumbai have such a strong historical connection to India’s fan and electrical equipment industry?

Many entrepreneurs set up shop in Mumbai around the time of India’s independence and the partition, building businesses in the city’s wholesale markets. As a result, some of the companies that started as small shops have evolved into some of India’s largest electrical equipment manufacturers.

Conclusion

Mumbai’s fan brand landscape turned out to be considerably more interesting than one might have expected. The city is home to Crompton, Bajaj Electricals, Anchor by Panasonic, as well as Polycab India, who were all early to adopt electricity and develop their own production capabilities. 

More recently, the Mumbai-based manufacturer Atomberg has managed to position itself as a serious competitor to its predecessors, forcing them to embrace more energy-efficient technologies. Last but not least, there are also national retailers such as Havells, Orient Electric, Usha, V-Guard and Luminous, which are represented in the local market and retain considerable volume.

With energy efficiency standards set to rise and BLDC motors poised to penetrate cheaper segments, the top fan manufacturers in Mumbai will continue to shape the cooling appliance space for decades to come regardless of the year of publishing.