Xiaomi Seems Eager to Challenge Tesla in Europe!

Xiaomi continues to shake up expectations by announcing its arrival in Europe as early as 2027, three years ahead of schedule.

This significant decision by Xiaomi showcases its growing global ambitions, as the Chinese manufacturer, still young in the automotive market, prepares to face a complex environment, requiring strong infrastructure for both sales and after-sales service.

Initially, Xiaomi planned to focus solely on the Chinese market before considering the internationalization of its vehicles. However, the situation seems to be evolving quickly. According to CarNewsChina, Xiaomi has formed a strategic partnership with Hyperion Leasing, a subsidiary of Sinomach, to export its electric models to key markets. This partnership goes beyond mere exportation: Hyperion will be responsible for maintenance and technical support for Xiaomi cars internationally.

A lesson for Europeans

Hyperion Leasing is a major player, with 160,000 employees and a presence in 170 countries, and its collaboration with Xiaomi could accelerate international market penetration, particularly in Russia, where the manufacturer has already sold 150 units of the SU7 model. This model, launched in March 2024, is seeing great success in China, with nearly 140,000 sales last year. In response to this demand, Xiaomi is establishing a new factory to increase its production capacity and is also preparing to launch the YU7, an electric crossover.

The company had initially planned to wait until 2030 to consider exportation, but faced with the growing popularity of its models and generous public subsidies, Xiaomi has raised its ambitions. Exportation could offer much more appealing margins, similar to BYD, which enjoys higher profits in the European market. Sinomach’s international presence could finally facilitate Xiaomi’s expansion into other markets, particularly European ones.

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