CHINESE SMARTPHONES
Xiaomi opens Paris store to gauge demand in Europe as it eyes US expansion
A tough stance by Donald Trump against Chinese technology companies may hinder Xiaomi’s expansion plans in the US
Paris — Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has opened a store in Paris and planning for more shops in France, Spain and Italy, testing the appetite of consumers in developed markets as its executives consider a US expansion. "Every morning I think about the US market and when we’ll launch there," Xiaomi senior vice-president Wang Xiang, who heads global operations, said on Tuesday in Paris. "But 2018 is the year of Europe." With its plans for an initial public offering at the filing stage, Xiaomi is looking to expand into new markets as it consolidates its position at home and in countries including India, Russia and Indonesia. In 2017 it launched in Spain, where it has four stores. Its first French shop, in Paris, opened on Tuesday. The US may prove to be a whole different ball game. A tough stance by President Donald Trump against Chinese technology companies has already caused turmoil for the likes of ZTE and Huawei. "I don’t see any reason the US will block us — we’re an internet c...
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