Acer has set an internal goal of shipping 10 million smartphones and 10 million tablets in 2014, increasing from the 1.5 million and five million shipped in 2013, according to Acer's Taiwan-based supply chain makers.
Acer regained normal business operations in the first quarter of 2014, weathering the negative impact of personnel reshuffles in the second half of 2013, company CEO Jason Chen said. Shipments will start to rise beginning the second quarter, Chen indicated.
Acer will launch three 7- to 8-inch Android tablets in the second quarter and more than 10 smartphones in 2014, Taiwan supply chain makers indicated. In order to minimize production costs, Acer will decrease tablet ODM production by Taiwan-based Compal Electronics and Wistron to 30% of 2014 target shipments and increase outsourcing to China-based makers to 70%.
