For the first time, Vivo has shipped more smartphones in India than Samsung. The Chinese manufacturer’s volume jumped by almost 50% last quarter, according to research firm Canalys. It now trails only Xiaomi, which remains the country’s best-selling brand after overtaking Samsung in 2017.
But Vivo’s victory may be short-lived. Canalys says stores were stocking up on Vivo’s smartphones ahead of the Indian Premier League. Since 2015, the Chinese brand has been a sponsor of the popular cricket tournament, which is now indefinitely postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Analysts say the stockpile means that Vivo may struggle to quickly sell its phones.
While smartphone shipment in India rose last quarter, it’s expected to plunge this quarter due to the nationwide lockdown that started in late March.
“Online channels are likely to emerge the winners as public fear of the virus deters consumers from buying offline,” said Canalys analyst Madhumita Chaudhary.