China’s Xiaomi has employed a minimum of 5 senior executives from corporations together with Germany’s BMW, LinkedIn posts confirmed, because it advances plans to construct an electrical automobile analysis and growth centre in Europe.
The world’s third largest smartphone maker started manufacturing EVs final 12 months with the launch of the SU7 sedan after promoting telephones, family home equipment and good devices for many of its 15-year historical past.
It has since change into one of many largest disrupters within the Chinese language auto market, outselling Tesla’s Mannequin 3 since December, with firm president Lu Weibing saying this week that it’s going to start promoting its vehicles overseas in 2027.
Xiaomi employed Rudolf Dittrich, a 15-year BMW veteran, final 12 months to go the deliberate analysis centre, in keeping with his LinkedIn profile.
Different new hires embody Dusan Sarac, a former supervisor at BMW Group, who mentioned on his LinkedIn profile that he had joined the European analysis centre this month. Jannis Hellwig additionally joined Xiaomi from BMW and can function a senior engineer on efficiency growth and integration.
BMW spokespeople didn’t instantly reply to Reuters’ requests for remark.
Xiaomi can be hiring for a number of different positions to be primarily based in Munich, Germany, together with senior automotive designer, senior automotive exterior designer and automobile dynamics engineers, in keeping with LinkedIn jobs web page.
The corporate advised Reuters on Friday that its EV analysis and growth centre in Europe is “within the means of planning.” It gave no particulars on the power’s deliberate location, when it is going to open or the dimensions of Xiaomi’s funding.
Firm president Lu didn’t elaborate on which markets it plans to focus on when it launches gross sales exterior China.
