Chinese technology firm Xiaomi is reportedly planning to establish a research and development center in Munich, Germany, as part of its strategy to expand electric vehicle operations and prepare for international sales beginning in 2027, according to a report by Nikkei Asia.
While Xiaomi has not issued a formal public confirmation, a company spokesperson is said to have shared the plans with the Japanese news outlet. Details remain limited, though Chinese media outlets suggest a small-scale operation has already been set up in Germany, employing fewer than 50 staff.
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According to Chinese EV publication 36 Krypton, the Munich team is currently engaged in performance tuning for the SU7 Ultra Nürburgring edition and broader vehicle development efforts. The site also claims the unit is led by former BMW executive Rudolf Dittrich. Writing in Chinese, the publication reported, “Xiaomi hopes to form a BMW-like, Porsche-like R&D system: develop and test new technologies on the car, and then continuously decentralise the technology to a [mass production] model.”
The move aligns with Xiaomi’s wider ambition to become a global player in the electric vehicle sector. Speaking at MWC 2025 in March, Xiaomi President William Lu said, “Our main plan is to create a strong position in the Chinese market, as without it, it would be hard to expand overseas.” Lu acknowledged investor concerns over Xiaomi’s late entry into the EV space, stating, “After each earnings conference, we communicated with investors, and everyone tended to think that Xiaomi was late and missed the best opportunity. And that the car business can drag down the mobile phone business if unsuccessful.”
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Xiaomi launched its first electric vehicle in 2024 and has seen rapid growth since, registering over 200,000 vehicles in China as of April 2025. The company has raised its 2025 delivery target from 300,000 to 350,000 vehicles, having sold out a full year’s worth of SU7 Ultra production in just two hours.