Xiaomi, long known primarily for its smartphones, which are also available in Germany, and recently entering the mobility market with e-scooters, only entered the electric car market last year. And it has been extremely successful for a newcomer: the entry-level model, the Xiaomi SU7, reminiscent of the Porsche Taycan, is very popular in China.
Xiaomi reached its first 100,000 deliveries in 229 days and the next 100,000 in just 119 days – with only one model. Shortly after the second model, the YU7 electric SUV, went on sale this summer, Xiaomi broke the 300,000 delivery mark across both models – or, strictly speaking, including the SU7 Ultra, a sports car version of the SU7 that is counted as a separate model and has already set a record time at the Nürburgring.
Start with 50 employees
It has been known since March that Xiaomi plans to sell its electric cars outside China from 2027 onwards. And in April, the first reports emerged about plans for a research and development centre in Munich. Xiaomi has now officially opened this centre. According to the Handelsblatt newspaper, the site will initially start with 50 employees, and more than 20 additional positions are advertised on LinkedIn for the Munich location.
The new Xiaomi site in Munich will focus on high-performance vehicle projects, with the team also concentrating on the development of electric vehicle technology, design innovations, customer orientation and cutting-edge research.
Manager sought for European launch
However, the advertised positions are by no means limited to research and development: Xiaomi is also looking for a country manager and a head of retail operations to build up sales in Europe. Specialists in vehicle logistics, registrations and after-sales are also in demand. The new location is not just about research, development and design, and Xiaomi wants to use Munich as a base to prepare for its European launch, which the company has confirmed for 2027.
“This centre is essential for adapting the products to European standards,” automotive expert Beatrix Keim told the German business publication Handelsblatt. According to the business newspaper, the Munich location is headed by Rudolf Dittrich, a former manager at BMW Motorrad, who describes himself on LinkedIn as Head of Xiaomi EV Europe R&D Centre. In August, it was announced that Kai Langer, former head of design at BMW i, had been hired for Xiaomi’s Munich location.
Xiaomi is by no means the first Chinese car manufacturer to set up shop in Munich: earlier this month, Xpeng announced the opening of an R&D centre in Munich, Li Auto also has a location there, and Nio has even had a Global Design Centre in Munich for ten years.
mi.com, handelsblatt.com (in German)
This article was first published by Florian Treiß for Ev Authority’s German edition
