Xiaomi has gathered experienced specialists in the new R&D center. The Munich division is headed by Rudolf Dittrich, a man who was responsible for the BMW M4 GT3 racing project. Claus-Dieter Groll is responsible for the dynamics of cars — another BMW veteran who worked on the tuning of almost the entire lineup: from the 3 Series and 4 Series to the flagship X7 crossovers.
Overall, the staff consists of about 50 specialists, including alumni from Porsche, Lamborghini, and Mercedes-Benz. This team composition directly indicates priorities: high performance, premium design, and impeccable handling.
Key specialists of the Munich R&D center Xiaomi. Photo: Xiaomi Germany
First test: YU7 GT crossover
The first model to which the new team members will fully contribute will be the YU7 GT. This is the charged version of the YU7 crossover, whose debut is expected at the end of May 2026. Although the full specifications are kept secret, insiders predict a power of about 990 hp and a top speed of 300 km/h.
Expansion plans
Currently, Xiaomi Auto demonstrates amazing speed. Last year, the company delivered over 400,000 vehicles, and the plan for 2026 is 550,000 units. So far, sales are limited to the domestic Chinese market, but 2027 is set to be pivotal. Germany is chosen as the first stop for the European debut, which is logical given the presence of its own base in Munich.
Besides engineers, Xiaomi actively recruits managers. Former top managers of Tesla China have already joined the team and will be responsible for sales and production processes.
