Science & Tech · Gadgets & EVs · 9 hrs ago
Xiaomi plans to expand its South African business beyond phones
Xiaomi wants to grow its business in South Africa, where it sees the market as strategically important.
Country manager Tianshi Lv took the role in March 2026 after six years leading Xiaomi in Peru.
He says the company’s phone market share there rose from 1% to 30%, and plans to use the same three-part approach in South Africa: build brand awareness, offer products at different prices and sell through operators, shops and online stores.
Xiaomi has not said what share of the South African phone market it holds or what share it hopes to reach.
The company launched three Redmi Note 17 phones in South Africa last week, priced from R9,999 to R15,999.
Its growth push comes as Xiaomi’s global smartphone shipments fell 26% year on year in the second quarter of 2026, with higher memory chip costs putting pressure on lower-priced phones.
Lv says Xiaomi is in South Africa for the long term, but has not set out a local market-share target.
Xiaomi says it regards South Africa as an important strategic market and plans to apply the approach it used to grow its business in Peru.
Country manager Tianshi Lv took over Xiaomi’s South African operation in March 2026.
The strategy includes building brand awareness, offering products across price points and selling through operators, retailers and online stores.
Three Redmi Note 17 models went on sale in South Africa last week through several retailers and Vodacom.
Xiaomi did not disclose its current South African smartphone market share or its target.
- Who
- Xiaomi South Africa and its country manager, Tianshi Lv.
- What
- Xiaomi plans to build its South African business using a strategy that includes a wider product range and more sales channels.
- When
- Lv took over in March 2026; the Redmi Note 17 range went on sale last week.
- Where
- South Africa.
- Why
- Xiaomi says South Africa is an important strategic market and has many technology-literate consumers.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Lv ran Xiaomi’s business in Peru, where he says the company’s smartphone market share grew from 1% to 30%.
Lv took over as Xiaomi’s South African country manager.
Three Redmi Note 17 models went on sale in South Africa.
- Country manager
- Tianshi Lv
- South African appointment
- March 2026
- Peru smartphone market share
- Grew from 1% to 30% during Lv’s six years running Xiaomi there, according to Lv
- Redmi Note 17 Pro Max 5G price
- R15 999
- Redmi Note 17 Pro 5G price
- R12 999
- Redmi Note 17 5G price
- R9 999
What people are saying
an important market and strategic market
tell our story
The market is still very diverse
Sources
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