Motorola says hello to China, again

By Liu Zheng and Gao Yuan (chinadaily.com.cn) Updated: 2015-01-26 14:26

3:10 pm, China National Convention Center, Beijing

Lenovo CEO Yang Yuanqing said his first phone (in 1994) was a Moto. "The new Moto will give customized features to buyers," says Yang. [Photo/Screen shot from youku.com]

Lenovo has vowed to revive the brand in China since it finalized the purchase of Motorola Mobility from Google Inc for $2.9 billion in October, 2014.

After more than two years' absence, the rollout starts with the Moto X in February, with six-inch Moto X Pro and dual-SIM card Moto G coming online later, targeting medium, high and low-end markets, respectively, said Liu Jun, Lenovo executive vice-president and president of Lenovo's Mobile Business Group.

According to Beijing-based consultancy Analysys International, Motorola once owned around 40 percent of market share in the country's mobile phone sector, but now more than 75 percent of market share belongs to rising Chinese handset makers such as Xiaomi, Huawei and ZTE.

Rick Osterloh, president and chief operating officer of Motorola Mobility, said Lenovo's channel and supply chain resources will help it grow market share in China.