Recent social media posts show BYD Chairman and CEO Wang Chuanfu visiting Xiaomi’s automobile manufacturing facility, accompanied by Xiaomi Group founder Lei Jun. The visit, although not officially announced by either company, was captured in short video clips that were widely circulated online.
In the videos, Wang is seen touring the Xiaomi Auto plant while Lei Jun acts as guide, personally introducing the facility’s operations. Another man, wearing a short-sleeved shirt and walking behind Lei, appears to be Hu Zhengnan, partner at Shunwei Capital and a prominent figure in China’s auto industry. Hu formerly served as president of the Geely Automotive Research Institute and chief engineer of the Geely Boyue project.
This meeting takes place amid continued cooperation between Xiaomi and BYD in both the consumer electronics and automotive sectors. BYD Electronics has long been a key supplier to Xiaomi’s smartphone business. Also, Xiaomi’s SU7 Standard Edition uses BYD’s Blade Battery.
At the 2024 Beijing Auto Show, Lei Jun stated that BYD had been a critical partner for over a decade in the smartphone business and had now become a core partner in the company’s EV initiative. Wang Chuanfu attended the same show and visited the Xiaomi booth, reinforcing his earlier public support for Xiaomi’s automotive development. As early as 2021, Wang said BYD would support and collaborate with Xiaomi in its car-making efforts.
The recent factory visit has sparked speculation about a deeper strategic alignment. While no technical details were disclosed, industry watchers note the complementary strengths of both companies—BYD in power battery and drivetrain technology, and Xiaomi in innovative ecosystems and intelligent cockpit development.
The visit also comes during a busy week for Lei Jun. Earlier, photos of him standing alongside Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang next to a Xiaomi SU7 Ultra EV circulated widely on Chinese social media, adding further visibility to Xiaomi’s EV brand.
Observers have also pointed to the broader trend of “co-opetition” in China’s EV industry, where companies with overlapping ambitions still collaborate on foundational technologies, supply chain resilience, and ecosystem integration.
Xiaomi has positioned its EV strategy around pure electric vehicles with a focus on intelligent driving and ecosystem integration. BYD, in contrast, offers a wide range of EVs and plug-in hybrids and continues to expand its global footprint.
The presence of Hu Zhengnan during the visit may further indicate Xiaomi’s emphasis on technical leadership and industry experience in scaling up its vehicle program.
Neither company has issued an official statement about the meeting.
