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Xiaomi wants to dominate the smartphone market

By Aiko Tanaka
1 min read
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International markets are becoming increasingly more important to Xiaomi. And in an interview with Sina Tech, the CEO of Xiaomi’s sub-brand Redmi, Lu Weibing, did nothing to hide this fact and openly detailed the company’s plans for global domination.

Over in India, as Weibing pointed out, Xiaomi and Redmi combined have led the smartphone market for the past seven quarters. They now apparently hold a 10% lead over second place Samsung, but through further investments, Xiaomi wants to take things to a whole new level by achieving a 50% market share.

The Chinese company and its sub-brand currently account for 29% of Indian shipments, so the goal is certainly an optimistic one. It isn’t impossible, though. After all, seven of the top 10 best-selling smartphones in India recently were made by Xiaomi. Also, just a few weeks ago it was announced that over 2 million Redmi Note 7 units had been shipped in just two months.

Outside of Asia, Xiaomi and Redmi are also hoping to continue their expansion this year. In Europe, the company is a distant fourth behind Samsung, Apple, and Huawei, but through further Redmi investments it hopes to gradually close the gap. Also, in the hope of increasing shipments globally, 2019 will see Redmi launch in Latin America alongside East African, Central African, and West African markets. The company plans to continue its focus on e-commerce and value for money, meaning there will be no push for large profit margins.

Questions & Answers

Q.

What is Xiaomi's specific market share goal in India, and how does it compare to their current position?

A.

Xiaomi aims to achieve a 50% market share in India. Currently, Xiaomi and Redmi together account for 29% of Indian smartphone shipments, holding a 10% lead over the second-placed competitor.

Q.

Where does Xiaomi plan to expand its market presence outside of Asia during 2019?

A.

In 2019, Redmi plans to launch in Latin America. It will also expand into East African, Central African, and West African markets, alongside continued expansion efforts in Europe.

Q.

What is Xiaomi's strategy for growth and increasing shipments globally, particularly concerning profit margins?

A.

Xiaomi plans to focus on e-commerce and offering value for money to increase shipments globally. This strategy means there will be no push for large profit margins on their products.

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