With lap records at the Nürburgring and strong sales figures in China, Xiaomi is preparing to launch its electric cars in Europe. Xiaomi/dpaChinese electronics giant Xiaomi is planning to bring its electric cars to the European market from 2027, the company announced at the IFA technology fair in Berlin, where it signed letters of intent with car dealership groups to build a network of workshops and showrooms."Xiaomi Auto is committed to long-term investment in Europe," said Yu Liguo, vice president of Xiaomi Auto and head of its international business, on Thursday. He said that alongside the company's existing research and development centre in Munich, local dealership partners were the key to a reliable market entry.In China, Xiaomi has delivered more than 700,000 vehicles since the launch of its SU7 electric saloon in spring 2024, according to the company's own figures. Until recently, the group had held back from entering the European market, saying its production capacity was fully absorbed by domestic demand.AdvertisementAdvertisementObservers had recently noted, however, that Xiaomi had become active in Germany to demonstrate the performance of its cars. At the Nürburgring Nordschleife, the manufacturer set several lap records: the production model SU7 Ultra holds the lap record for electric luxury-class cars, while the YU7 GT SUV recently completed the circuit fully autonomously without a driver.In China, the world's largest car market, Xiaomi has achieved in record time what many tech companies have failed to do: successfully transform into a credible car manufacturer. Since the debut of the SU7 sports saloon in spring 2024, the company rose into the top tier of Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers in just over two years.Unlike rivals that seek market share through budget electric vehicles, Xiaomi has positioned itself in the higher-margin premium and technology segment.The SU7 range became the best-selling saloon in China priced above 200,000 yuan (around €24,000 or $30,000), while the newly introduced YU7 SUV recorded more than 240,000 binding orders within just 18 hours. The automotive division has thus developed into the group's strongest growth driver alongside its smartphone business.AdvertisementAdvertisementXiaomi is the world's third-largest smartphone manufacturer - after Apple and Samsung. Its entry into the automotive market is part of the group's "Human x Car x Home" strategy, through which Xiaomi aims to link vehicles, smartphones and connected home electronics via its own operating system and AI applications. Alongside this, the company announced at IFA that it would also expand the European offering of its Mijia home appliance brand and its own XRING semiconductor range.Representatives from Xiaomi and eight leading German automotive retail groups pose for a group photo at the IFA technology trade show. The Chinese electronics giant Xiaomi will begin selling its electric cars in Germany and other European countries starting in 2027. Christoph Dernbach/dpa
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