New smokeless tobacco devices by KT&G to hit shelves Nov. 16

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New smokeless tobacco devices by KT&G to hit shelves Nov. 16

KT&G’s lil Aible Premium, its new heat-not-burn tobacco device [KT&G]

KT&G’s lil Aible Premium, its new heat-not-burn tobacco device [KT&G]

 
KT&G will release lil Aible, its newest heat-not-burn tobacco device, to the local market starting Nov. 16, with plans for overseas still yet to come.
 
The lil Aible is equipped with artificial intelligence technology to enhance its efficiency.
 
The device will automatically detect the surrounding temperature and humidity and heat itself to the optimal temperature when turned on. It also shows how long the device will last based on remaining battery levels and notifies the user when the battery level falls below 50 percent.
 
The new product comes in two designs: the lil Aible and the lil Aible Premium, which has a touch screen. Notifications such as those for battery levels will be written on the screen of the premium model. Without a touch screen, the lil Aible will notify users of different notifications by lighting up in different patterns.
 
The lil Aible Premium can be connected to the user’s smartphone through Bluetooth. Users will get a notification on the device’s screen when they get a call, text or KakaoTalk message. When KT&G’s My lil application is downloaded, users can also locate their device.
 
Users will have to use AIIM, heatsticks specifically made for the lil Aible.
 
KT&G said it doesn’t have plans to release the product in overseas markets yet, but will do so if the product does well in Korea.
 
“We need to discuss possible overseas sales with Philip Morris International, but we haven’t started those talks yet,” said Lim Wang-seop, chief of KT&G’s NGP business division, at a press conference Wednesday. “But we will start those talks if the product is well-received in Korea.”
 
KT&G exports its heat-not-burn cigarettes through a distribution agreement with Philip Morris International. The contract will last through Oct. 25 next year.
 
The two lil Aible models will sell starting Nov. 16 at 8,500 convenience stores in Seoul, KT&G’s five offline stores known as lil Minimalium and on the company’s online website. It plans to offer the products at convenience store branches located outside of Seoul starting the first quarter of next year.
 
The lil Aible is priced at 110,000 won ($80), and the lil Aible Premium is priced at 200,000 won.
 
The company expressed its ambitions to have half of its sales coming from heat-not-burn products, compared to 10 percent last year. It currently has the largest market share of the local heat-not-burn market with 48.5 percent.
 
“We recently received a request from our shareholders about aiming to have 50 percent of our sales coming from heat-not-burn cigarettes by end of 2025, and we hope for the same thing,” added Lim. “We don’t think it's an impossible goal since the heat-not-burn cigarette market is expanding very rapidly, and it could be possible if we make much of that expanding market KT&G's.”

BY LEE TAE-HEE [lee.taehee2@joongang.co.kr]
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