Xiaomi’s air purifiers and rice cookers might make it to India soon

Xiaomi expects sales of smart home devices to reach 10 billion yuan ($1.54 billion) this year, up from 5 billion yuan a year ago, said the company’s vice president

Xiaomi expects sales of smart home devices to reach 10 billion yuan ($1.54 billion) this year, up from 5 billion yuan a year ago, said the company’s vice president (Xiaomi)

Xiaomi's home appliances cloud soon make their way to India with the Chinese smartphone maker aiming to double the sales of these devices, such as rice cookers and air purifiers this year.

As it accelerates diversification of business lines to cope with the saturation of smartphones at home and abroad, Xiaomi expects sales of smart home devices to reach 10 billion yuan ($1.54 billion) this year, up from 5 billion yuan a year ago, said the company's vice president Liu De, speaking to reporters at the Global Mobile Internet Conference in Beijing.

Liu also said the company, previously known for its online-focus sales model, plans to raise the number of its bricks-and-mortar retail stores in China to 60.

Xiaomi was ranked fifth in global smartphone shipment in the first quarter of 2016, according to research firm TrendForce.