vivo smartphone has overtaken samsung in the Indian market to take the second position previously occupied by Samsung. Vivo shipped up to 20 per cent of India’s market share in Q1 2020. The smartphone maker shipped  6.7 million units in the final week of March.

vivo grew its shipment to over 50 per cent, which enabled it to take the second place. The growth is attributed to aggressive marketing tactics and the sponsorship to the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Xiaomi maintained the lead position at about 30.6 per cent shipping 10.3 million. Samsung took the third position with 6.3 million units. While Realme the fourth position with 3.9 million units and oppo fifth with 3.5 million units.

“vivo’s victory is bitter-sweet,” according to a Canalys Analyst Madhumita Chaudhary. “The high sell-in this quarter can be highly attributed to planned stockpiles ahead of the high-profile Indian Premier League (IPL). Besides, the unplanned lockdown at the end of March has disrupted the vendor’s plans. With IPL postponed, and much of its inventory in offline channels locked out, Vivo will struggle to see a quick sell-through when the lockdown lifts.”

vivo has maintained a definite growth curve throughout the period. In Q1 2019, the company also reported a 50 per cent increase in shipments according to a previous report by research firm Canalys.

However, Canalys expects smartphone shipments in India to plunge in Q2 2020, as the lockdown remains in force up to May 3rd, and vendors grapple with both supply- and demand.

“While parts of India emerge out of the lockdown and the government works out an exit strategy, worker availability.  Which depends heavily on opening state borders and allowing public transport, will be a key issue for vendors and ODMs. Additional manpower regulations due to COVID-19, like in China, is likely to slow down resumption activities in factories across India. While directly impacting production capacity. Consumer demand, however, is likely to be more robust. Online channels are likely to emerge the winners as public fear of the virus deters consumers from buying offline.”

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