A strong contender rising from the crimson land, Huawei is swiping acres of market share with its remarkably improved smart devices. Less than half a decade ago the brand was sniggered at and cast aside as another cheap knock off from China, but now has grown to be a formidable brand name.
Thanking its partners and customers, Huawei at a recent Southern Pacific press and dealers conference declared itself as a transformed conglomerate, paying tribute to ts brand building exercise. Of late the company has signed on Lionel Messi, Henry Cavill, Scarlett Johansson and other ‘A’ stars, using their global appeal in pushing the Huawei devices across.
Evidently this has proven effective, citing its stellar recent 2016 first quarter performance growth, regional executives at its Consumer Business Group’s showcased how the brand has seen improved acceptance among consumers. Most notably, bucking the trend to ship 28.3 million units globally, a 64% year-on-year increase while total global smartphone shipments declined 3% YoY in 2016 Q1.
The company retains the number three spot in global smartphone shipments of over 100 million and targets to increase that by 40% to 140 million for 2016. Samsung holds the number one spot with 318 million while Apple 231 million with all recording growth in 2015. Shipments within Southern Pacific region saw a 50% growth for the Chinese brand as users try out the phone models for the first time.
Seeing the increase pick up rate, Huawei will commit more investment in the region to increase its foot print expanding into more than 10,000 stores and adding to its five advanced experience stores and 87 experience stores.
According to Peter Tong, President of Huawei Consumer Business Group Southern Pacific Region, a significant highlight of the Huawei’s performance in 2015 came from its Consumer Business division which reported an annual worldwide revenue of USD20 billion, a 73% year-over-year increase.
Innovation is a long term investment for Huawei and in 2015, the company invested USD1.43 billion in R&D for its consumer business.
Direct result on this investment was the release of P9, a joint collaborated effort with leading German camera brand Leica. Offering consumers the best in class mobile photography in black and white, a trait closely related with Leica. P9 will be reaching Malaysia sometime in May.
