Hugo Barra explains how Xiaomi works, says it’s prepping launch in Malaysia ‘in next few weeks’

For the first time ever, the world is talking about a Chinese brand. That brand is upstart phone-maker Xiaomi. Speaking today at our Startup Asia Singapore 2014 event, Hugo Barra, Xiaomi’s VP of international, explained how the young company approaches its unusual ways of manufacturing and retailing.

Barra also revealed that Xiaomi will launch in Malaysia “in the next two, three, or four weeks.” An exact date will be revealed shortly.

So far, Xiaomi has launched outside of mainland China in three areas – Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore.

After a popular public event for fans in Taiwan proved a hit, Xiaomi will do the same thing in Singapore next.

Personal voyage for Barra

.@hbarra "if we do our job right @xiaomi is going to change the world" #startupasia pic.twitter.com/FJMbmreqon

— PJ Kershaw (@pjkershawnz) May 8, 2014

Xiaomi is “bound to change the world in significant ways” that are “comparable to building the Android platform,” Barra explained to interviewer Willis Wee – and that’s why Barra took up the life-changing move to China (departing from heading the Android crew at Google) to work with Lei Jun and the team at Xiaomi. “They’re insanely smart,” says Barra of the core Xiaomi crew.

With eight co-founders, Xiaomi feels like several startups, Barra explains, with each co-founder pushing forward their assigned area. That’s how Google works as well, he adds.

(See: After stellar start to new year, Xiaomi ups 2014 sales target to 60 million)

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