Xiaomi opens European R&D center in Munich, poaching BMW, Porsche, and Lamborghini veterans
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.
| Name | Position | Previous / representative work |
|---|---|---|
| Rudolf Dittrich | General Manager, European R&D Center | BMW M4 GT3 |
| Kai Langer | User Experience Department Head | BMW i8 |
| Claus-Dieter Groll | Vehicle Dynamics Department Head | BMW iX3 |
| Dusan Sarac | Whole Vehicle Department Head | Rolls-Royce Cullinan |
| Jean-Arthur Madelaine | Design Head, European R&D Center | Mercedes-Benz Vision GT concept supercar |
| Fabian Schmölz-Obermeier | Exterior Design Department Head | Porsche 992 GT3 RS, Lamborghini Temerario |
| Julien Cueff | Interior Design Department Head | Mercedes-Benz |
| Hubert Hügle | Hardware Development Department Head | AMG race car |
| Simon Schmitt | Fluid Dynamics Department Head | BMW GT-Cars |
| Liu Chengqing | Operations Department Head | BMW long-wheelbase 5 Series |
| Jakob Lukosch | CMF Design Department Head | GAGGENAU |
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.
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.
