Chinese tech firm Xiaomi has put up huge banners screaming 'Made in India' outside its Mi-Store showrooms in Kolkata, aimed apparently at countering the growing chorus to boycott Chinese products.
The company, which claims to be India's leading smartphone brand, was founded in 2010 by Chinese billionaire Lei Jun along with six others.
The brand name outside Mi-stores have been replaced by 'Made in India' banners written in white on a saffron backdrop, similar to the original colour scheme of the brand logo.
On Thursday, Xiaomi India MD Manu Kumar Jain tweeted, "Super proud to share that majority of our TVs are Made in India! We employ thousands of team members across our India factories."
Super proud to share that majority of our TVs are #MadeInIndia!
— Manu Kumar Jain (@manukumarjain) June 25, 2020
We employ thousands of team members across our #India factories. #ProudIndian
Great job by our fearless leaders @eshwar_nc & @laurelsudeep.
RT if you love our MiTVs. #Xiaomi @makeinindia (2/2) pic.twitter.com/Kdzx6bytcz
The company claims it has 31.2 per cent market share in India. Its latest smartphone was sold off within seconds of its third online flash sale on Wednesday.
Today's sale of #RedmiNote9ProMax was out of stock in less than 50 seconds.
— Manu Kumar Jain (@manukumarjain) June 24, 2020
Thank you all for your love and support. #NoMiWithouYou
All of us are working very hard to bring more quantity next week.#Xiaomi #RedmiNote #IloveRedmiNote https://t.co/mN0WWMDphz
In Kolkata, customers shared mixed feelings about the move. Some supported the call to boycott Chinese products in the aftermaths of the Galwan Valley face-off where 20 Indian soldiers were killed, while others termed it impractical, saying a majority of electrical goods have components manufactured in China.
"As long as the product is manufactured completely in India, it is fine. But if parts are brought from China and then assemble here and the product still write 'Made in India', then it's misleading the customer," said Malavika, a consumer.
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