Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority
TL; PhD
- According to reports, due to layoffs, Oppo will cut 20% of its workforce in China.
- This is after the merger with OnePlus in the middle of the year.
- The employees of its ColorOS and wearable device teams were the most affected.
When the Oppo/OnePlus merger was announced earlier this year, fans worried about the potential negative consequences. However, it seems that Oppo, especially its employee list, is now the first to bear the brunt.
According to a new report Bloomberg Citing “informed sources”, Oppo will cut 20% of its employees from its ColorOS software development, smart watch and audio product teams in China. This move seems to solve the problem of layoffs after the integration with OnePlus. Due to the global shortage of chipsets and new restrictions in response to the pandemic, China’s brewing economic slowdown has made this long list of employees more complicated.
Oppo became China’s largest OEM in January 2021, surpassing its sibling brand Vivo and China’s long-term leader Huawei. It has also achieved some success in entering Europe. Its market share in the region increased by 82% in 2020, with shipments of 6.5 million units during the same period. However, Oppo has also been working hard to break into key regions such as North America, where OnePlus has achieved greater success.
BloombergThe source pointed out that Oppo’s R&D team outside China “has not been” affected by the layoffs. It is not clear whether more layoffs are possible, or whether Oppo is willing to weather the difficulties internationally. Nevertheless, it seems that the biggest loser in the Oppo and OnePlus merger may not be the company’s fans, but their employees.