Xiaomi’s Electric Ambition: Global EV Domination by 2027 Despite Domestic Speed Bumps

Xiaomi shifts gears toward global EV supremacy—but first, it's navigating potholes at home.

The 2027 Roadmap

The tech giant's electric dreams now have a deadline: worldwide rollout in two years. No more 'coming soon'—just pedal-to-the-metal execution.

Domestic Delivery Drag

Local logistics snarls threaten to stall the hype train. Because nothing says 'cutting-edge' like missed deadlines and supply chain chaos.

Wall Street Won't Care

Investors will lap this up anyway—another 'transformative narrative' to pump the stock before reality hits. Meanwhile, Tesla's laughing all the way to the charging bank.

TLDRs;

• Xiaomi plans to launch its EVs globally by 2027 but will focus on solving domestic delivery issues first.
• CEO Lei Jun says addressing backlogs in China is the priority for the next two years.
• Xiaomi’s EV strategy echoes its past smartphone playbook of focusing locally before going global.
• Delivery delays and capacity constraints have slowed the rollout of the YU7 SUV despite strong demand.

Xiaomi is setting its sights on launching electric vehicles to the global market by 2027, but CEO Lei Jun made it clear the company has no plans to rush.

Speaking during a recent livestream event outlining Xiaomi’s roadmap, Lei emphasized that fixing domestic delivery challenges will remain the company’s top priority over the next two years. Only after stabilizing operations in China will the tech firm begin eyeing international opportunities.

There are too many people queuing in China. In the next two years, we will give priority to solving the domestic delivery problem, and we will probably consider going abroad in 2027.” he stated.

Xiaomi entered the electric vehicle space in 2021 with bold ambitions, pledging a ten-year investment of around $10 billion. It later unveiled the YU7 electric SUV, which has already amassed over 240,000 pre-orders. But early success has also exposed familiar growing pains. Supply chain constraints and manufacturing bottlenecks have resulted in delivery delays of up to 60 weeks for early customers.

Early momentum meets old challenges

For Xiaomi, production bottlenecks are nothing new. A similar scenario played out during its early smartphone boom. In 2016, the company saw smartphone shipments fall sharply from 70 million to 41 million units, largely due to supply constraints. That historical parallel looms large as Xiaomi struggles to keep up with EV demand, despite predicting strong interest well in advance. While the company is currently expanding its manufacturing capacity with a third factory phase, Lei Jun admitted that solving these issues will take time.

China-first approach mirrors smartphone playbook

Xiaomi’s decision to delay its global EV rollout mirrors its early smartphone strategy. When the company launched its first phones in 2011, it spent three full years perfecting the product and scaling operations in China before going international in 2014. That cautious but calculated approach helped Xiaomi establish itself as one of China’s top smartphone brands by 2013. The same philosophy appears to be guiding its EV expansion.

Lei’s approach also contrasts with more aggressive international moves from peers like Nio and Xpeng, which began entering foreign markets before fully stabilizing their domestic bases. Xiaomi’s more patient path could allow it to fine-tune both manufacturing and customer support systems before entering competitive international EV markets.

Tech-first vehicles, not just transportation

Beyond hardware, Xiaomi is betting on the power of its technology ecosystem to set its EVs apart. Much like it did in smartphones, the company is building its vehicles as extensions of a connected digital environment.

The YU7 features advanced capabilities like LiDAR-assisted driving and is expected to integrate seamlessly with Xiaomi’s broader suite of products and services. With over 300 million MIUI users already on its platform, Xiaomi hopes to create a user experience that bridges its phones, smart devices, and vehicles into a unified ecosystem.

Still a long road to global roads

Although 2027 remains the target for international expansion, Xiaomi’s roadmap is clearly dependent on resolving the hurdles at home. The company is under pressure to prove it can deliver at scale while maintaining quality and customer satisfaction.

If it can overcome its current delivery woes and ramp up production efficiently, Xiaomi could emerge as a serious player in the global EV market, though it’s evident that Lei Jun is determined not to skip steps this time around.