BEIJING: Xiaomi Corp’s executive Gong Huaipeng revealed the pledge to sell its fast-moving phones in Russia, Brazil and parts of Southeast Asia. Success could depend on whether it can find local versions.
A 28-year-old power plant employee Mr. Gong, who lives in the eastern Chinese city of Jinan, has bought just about every type of Xiaomi smartphone since the startup began selling them four years ago. He was in Beijing this week for his first Xiaomi product-debut event, at which it launched a larger smartphone that appears to be aimed at Apple Inc.’s newest iPhone.
To win one of the 1,100 seats for fans, which cost about $16, Mr. Gong last week hovered over his computer waiting for ticket sales to begin. “I really admire Chairman Lei for his innovation,” said Mr. Gong, speaking of Lei Jun, the company’s founder and chairman. “I admire the way he thinks.”
Xiaomi’s fervent China fan base has helped the company surpass Samsung Electronics Co., Apple and other global players to create the country’s No. 1 smartphone vendor, according to IDC. Xiaomi President Bin Lin said in an interview that the company can replicate that model in other countries, including Brazil and Russia.
“We are very glad we rode the curve of smartphone growth in China,” he said. “Certainly many developing countries are following what has happened in China.”
