Sony has announced that it will no longer manufacture smartphones in Brazil. Although the vendor invested R$250m ($83m) last year to expand its mobile unit in the country, the end of tax exemptions for locally manufactured smartphones that cost up to R$1,500 ($530) has motivated the brand to move away from local production.
Instead of continuing with Foxconn and Arima for local manufacturing, Sony will now import products — like the — from China and Thailand.
Sony's marketing director Ana Peretti confirmed the changes to (via ):
The law of the well was suspended and we only have products over R $ 1.8 billion, so we decided to import these models.
Peretti also mentioned that the changes would result in a more flexible distribution system. Sony isn't the only vendor reconsidering its Brazilian strategy, as Xiaomi stated earlier this month that it would not bring any new phones to the country. The Chinese vendor stated that it would not leave the market — its first , only that it wouldn't launch devices like the or the more recent to the country:
Xiaomi is not leaving the country. With the constant changes in manufacturing rules and taxation for sales via e-commerce in Brazil at the end of 2015 and that are not yet solidified, the Xiaomi decided then not to make new releases in the country in the short term.
Instead of continuing with Foxconn and Arima for local manufacturing, Sony will now import products — like the — from China and Thailand.
Sony's marketing director Ana Peretti confirmed the changes to (via ):
The law of the well was suspended and we only have products over R $ 1.8 billion, so we decided to import these models.
Peretti also mentioned that the changes would result in a more flexible distribution system. Sony isn't the only vendor reconsidering its Brazilian strategy, as Xiaomi stated earlier this month that it would not bring any new phones to the country. The Chinese vendor stated that it would not leave the market — its first , only that it wouldn't launch devices like the or the more recent to the country:
Xiaomi is not leaving the country. With the constant changes in manufacturing rules and taxation for sales via e-commerce in Brazil at the end of 2015 and that are not yet solidified, the Xiaomi decided then not to make new releases in the country in the short term.