Chinese technology group Xiaomi has officially opened its first overseas research and development centre for electric vehicles in Munich as it prepares to enter the European car market in 2027, the company confirmed.
The site will start with around 50 employees and is already advertising more than 20 additional roles on LinkedIn, Handelsblatt reported. The Munich facility will focus on high-performance vehicle projects, electric vehicle technology, design innovation, customer orientation and research.
Xiaomi, best known for its smartphones and e-scooters, only entered the electric car sector last year. Its debut model, the SU7 sedan, reached 200,000 deliveries in under a year, while its second model, the YU7 SUV, helped push sales above 300,000. The SU7 Ultra, a performance variant, has also set a Nürburgring record.
The company is also recruiting a country manager, head of retail operations and specialists in logistics, registration and after-sales to prepare for the European launch, Handelsblatt reported. The Munich site is led by Rudolf Dittrich, a former BMW Motorrad manager, while BMW i’s former head of design, Kai Langer, also joined earlier this year.
“This centre is essential for adapting the products to European standards,” automotive expert Beatrix Keim told Handelsblatt.
Xiaomi joins other Chinese automakers expanding in southern Germany. Xpeng recently opened its own R&D hub in Munich, Li Auto operates a site in the city, and Nio has had a Global Design Centre there for a decade.