Xiaomi design team is largely made of BMW veterans. Credit: Xiaomi Understand China EV’s Market Real-time notifications when critical EV data is released All important data in one place 2,000,000+ data points Become a member Xiaomi Auto has opened a European research and development centre in Munich, Germany, as the Chinese EV maker prepares for its next product launch and a planned European market entry in 2027. The centre has about 50 other staff and is led by Rudolf Dittrich, who previously worked on BMW’s M4 GT3 race car project. Claus-Dieter Groll, another BMW veteran, heads vehicle dynamics. Groll has worked on several BMW models, including the 3 Series, 4 Series, Z4, X5, X6, and X7. The new centre launch was announced by Lei Jun, the company’s CEO, during the Beijing Auto Show on Friday. It will focus on high-performance vehicles, premium design, vehicle dynamics, and advanced automotive technologies. Xiaomi said the team includes engineers and designers with previous experience at BMW, Porsche, Lamborghini, and Mercedes-Benz. The first Xiaomi model to receive deep involvement from the European team is the YU7 GT, a performance version of the YU7 SUV. The model is expected to launch at the end of May. Xiaomi has not yet released full specifications for the YU7 GT, but the company is positioning the model as part of its push into higher-performance and more premium EV segments. NamePositionPrevious / representative work Rudolf DittrichGeneral Manager, European R&D CenterBMW M4 GT3Kai LangerUser Experience Department HeadBMW i8Claus-Dieter GrollVehicle Dynamics Department HeadBMW iX3Dusan SaracWhole Vehicle Department HeadRolls-Royce CullinanJean-Arthur MadelaineDesign Head, European R&D CenterMercedes-Benz Vision GT concept supercarFabian Schmölz-ObermeierExterior Design Department HeadPorsche 992 GT3 RS, Lamborghini TemerarioJulien CueffInterior Design Department HeadMercedes-BenzHubert HügleHardware Development Department HeadAMG race carSimon SchmittFluid Dynamics Department HeadBMW GT-CarsLiu ChengqingOperations Department HeadBMW long-wheelbase 5 SeriesJakob LukoschCMF Design Department HeadGAGGENAUList of core team members of Xiaomi Munich R&D and design base. Compiled by CarNewsChina Xiaomi currently sells three cars: the SU7 sedan, the SU7 Ultra performance car, and the YU7 SUV. The Munich centre also underlines Xiaomi’s broader overseas ambitions. Lei Jun, Xiaomi’s founder and CEO, has said the company plans to begin global expansion in 2027, with Europe as its first overseas market. Germany is expected to be the first stop for Xiaomi’s European EV entry. Xiaomi has been strengthening its car division with senior hires from established automakers and EV companies. Earlier this year, the company recruited former Tesla China executive Kong Yanshuang to work on sales, while Song Gang, a former manufacturing executive at Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory, was also reported to be joining Xiaomi Auto. Xiaomi Auto currently sells only in China, where it delivered over 400,000 cars last year. The company has set a 2026 delivery target of 550,000 vehicles. READ ALSO No cheap EVs: Xiaomi rules out sub‑13,800 USD models as CEO confirms no budget plans In March, Xiaomi launched an updated version of its first car, the SU7. At the Beijing Auto Show, the company said it had delivered 26,000 units of the upgraded SU7 series and secured 60,000 locked orders as of April 23. Xiaomi also plans to launch the YU7 GT by the end of May, ahead of its international expansion in 2027, starting with Europe. The European R&D centre gives Xiaomi access to engineering talent from brands it will likely compete with, especially in the premium EV segment. Chinese automakers are increasingly targeting the traditional territory of BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Audi, not only in China but also in Europe. Xiaomi’s core Munich team. Credit: Xiaomi