Chinese technology giant Xiaomi has officially opened its first overseas research and development center for electric vehicles in Munich, marking a significant step toward its planned entry into the European car market in 2027.
Best known for its smartphones and, more recently, its e-scooters, Xiaomi only entered the electric vehicle segment last year but has already emerged as a strong player. Its debut model, the SU7 sedan, which bears a resemblance to the Porsche Taycan, quickly gained popularity in China. The company reached its first 100,000 deliveries in 229 days and doubled that figure in just 119 days. With the launch of its second model, the YU7 electric SUV, alongside the SU7 Ultra sports variant, Xiaomi surpassed the 300,000-delivery milestone earlier this year.
The new Munich facility begins operations with 50 employees, and over 20 more positions are currently listed on LinkedIn. The site will focus on high-performance vehicle projects, electric vehicle technologies, design innovations, customer-focused development, and advanced research.
Recruitment efforts extend beyond research roles. Xiaomi is advertising positions such as country manager, head of retail operations, and specialists in vehicle logistics, registration, and after-sales support, underlining its ambition to use Munich as the hub for its European expansion.
Industry experts note the importance of the center in tailoring Xiaomi’s products to meet European standards. The facility is led by Rudolf Dittrich, a former BMW Motorrad executive, while Kai Langer, former head of design at BMW i, joined the team earlier this year.
Munich is becoming an increasingly important base for Chinese carmakers: Xpeng recently opened an R&D site in the city, Li Auto also operates there, and Nio has maintained its Global Design Center in Munich for a decade.
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