Xiaomi starts selling handsets in Mexico

Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has officially launched smartphone products in Mexico, bringing two models -- Redmi Note 4 and Redmi 4X -- to the country on Tuesday, according to a Sina news report.

The Note 4 and 4X models, part of Xiaomi's Redmi budget smartphone line, are priced from 5,499 Mexican pesos ($286) and 3,999 Mexican pesos, respectively.

The company has also developed an app called "Mi Community LATAM", which allows the user to have priority in purchasing Xiaomi products. Xiaomi already owns 15,000 loyal fans in Mexico, the report added.

Xiaomi phones will land at various retailers and distributors in Mexico including Best Buy and Sam's Club. Online sales channels will also be provided.

Other Chinese reports suggest the two Xiaomi smartphones models will also be available for online purchase in other Latin American countries including Columbia, Chile, and Uruguay.

Xiaomi's overseas expansion plan has not been affected after its head of international and primary English-language spokesperson Hugo Barra departed the company in January. Barra helped Xiaomi to expand its business to more than 20 countries during his three and a half years with the company.

Mexico is not Xiaomi's first Latin American stop. The company previously started selling its products in Brazil, but scaled down business in the country due to lackluster performance in the market.

Xiaomi is facing fierce competition in its home market. According to recent IDC report, Xiaomi shipped 9.3 million handsets in China in the first quarter, down 7.5 percent from the same period a year earlier. Its market share was 9 percent in China in the first quarter of 2017, compared with 7.4 percent in Q4 2016 and 9.8 percent in Q1 2016.