Once a top smartphone brand, Motorola has been playing catch-up since Google sold it to Lenovo in 2014. But now, Lenovo has set an ambitious goal — to propel Motorola to the top three smartphone makers globally within three years.

This bold claim comes from Matthew Zielinski, Lenovo’s international markets chief, who is confident enough to wager his paycheck on this goal. 

Talking to CNBC, Zielinski said ‘I would bet a paycheck that in three years we will be number three around the world.’

Motorola top smartphone brand

The current smartphone market is dominated by Apple and Samsung, who together hold a whopping 40% market share. Meanwhile, Motorola and Lenovo combined barely scraped together 4% in the last quarter.

Their strategy to climb the ranks involves targeting the high-end market segment, where Apple and Samsung are currently strong. A key part of this plan is their Razr phone, which is priced as a premium product. Zielinski sees the foldable Razr smartphone as Motorola’s entry into the high-end market.

Additionally, Lenovo is prepared to expand its manufacturing facility in Pondicherry, India, to support their growth. 

Zielinski highlighted the importance of India in Lenovo’s strategy. He sees it as a key country, not just for sales but for manufacturing too. Apple, for instance, has significantly increased its iPhone production in India.

Zielinski emphasized India’s strategic importance, citing the country’s rapid adoption of 5G and the wide range of Lenovo’s products, from smartphones to cloud services. 

He noted the ongoing discussions with the Indian government and the company’s plans to create more jobs in India.

“We’re going to place as many bets as we can because we think the growth of the Indian population is fantastic, and they’re wonderful people,” Zielinski said, highlighting the company’s commitment to the Indian market.

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