BRASILIA: China-based vendor Xiaomi Technology will soon its launch entry-level Hong Mi (Red Rice) 2 smartphone in the Brazil market and Taiwan-based vendor Asustek Computer will also launch its ZenFone 2 smartphone in the market in August, with the two models under production by a factory set up there by Taiwan-based EMS provider Foxconn Electronics, according to industry sources in Taiwan.
As the Brazil government imposes high customs tariff rates on imported consumer electronics but much lower rates on electronic components to encourage assembly into products in Brazil, Foxconn and Taiwan-based notebook ODMs Quanta Computer and Compal Electronics have set up assembly factories there, the sources said.
4.7-inch Hong Mi 2 will be for sale at BRL499 (US$160), while Asustek has not yet set prices for ZenFone 2 series, the sources indicated.
IDC estimates sales of at least 63 million smartphones in the Brazil market in 2015.
