vivo posted negative growth in Q4 2017 by both volume and by revenue. It maintained the 6th position in global smartphone market, but this is the first quarter for vivo posting volume decline from 2015. Its revenue also dropped -24% YoY in Q4 and this is the second quarter in a row for vivo posting revenue decline from 2016.

Asia Pacific remained as vivo’s butter and bread. But it was surpassed by Apple and Xiaomi in the region, and slipped to the 5th position this quarter. Now the question for the vendor is how to prevent further decline in the following quarters.

Embracing new technologies and stepping into new overseas markets are vivo’s initiatives to terminate the falling track. The vendor launched the world first smartphone with in-display fingerprint sensor in February 2018 and it is eyeing Russia to utilize its sponsorship deal for FIFA World Cup 2018.

Would these efforts help the vendor reignite growth this year? We do not expect it so. Its home market (China) is slowing down, its new growth engine (India) is under the change, and its new expansion plan takes time and resources to bear fruits.

Our latest report Q4 ’17 : vivo: Annual Decline by Volume and Revenue was published. Our WSS clients could access the full report from here.