Ingram Micro named Xiaomi distributor in Australia

Ingram Micro has been handed local distribution rights for Xiaomi after inking an exclusive deal with its Australian partner Panmi.

Ingram Micro will now sell the Chinese phone-maker’s products to Australian retailers and telecommunication providers, alongside other brands in Panmi’s portfolio.

“We are proud to be partnering with Panmi and to be able to offer the full range of products that they have to offer to the Australian consumer market, allowing Panmi to leverage the Ingram logistics, solutions capability and finance offerings,” Ingram SVP country chief executive Felix Wong said.

Panmi had previously announced a partnership with Xiaomi in March this year, which included the rights to to distribute and market Xiaomi's products online only in Australia.

Although Panmi also has a showroom for product demonstrations in Sydney, the Xiaomi brand was not previously sold in physical retail stores in Australia. 

Through the Ingram Micro deal, Xiaomi's products are now likely to appear in stores such as Harvey Norman and JB Hi-Fi, while talks with telcos such as Optus are still underway, ARN understands.

“We’re passionate about innovation and Xiaomi’s core value is innovation for everyone, amazing products with honest pricing,” Panmi CEO Daniel Wang said. “This philosophy along with Ingram’s extraordinary facilitation capabilities will not only give Aussies a taste of what’s on offer, but form the foundation of a new vision for everyday life.”

The deal will also give Ingram Micro access to other Panmi brands, including the Ninebot-Segway scooter, smart home product-maker Aqara and lightbulb-maker YeeLight.