Bengaluru: Chinese tech major Xiaomi on Thursday announced the opening of its first overseas electric vehicle (EV) research and design centre in Munich, Germany, as part of its strategy to expand its footprint in the global smart mobility market.

The facility, strategically located in one of Europe's automotive hubs, will focus on performance vehicle projects, electric vehicle technology development, design innovation and advanced research, the company said in a statement.

The Munich centre will bring together engineers, designers and researchers to work alongside Xiaomi's global teams, while also fostering collaborations with research institutions and industry partners to accelerate breakthroughs in vehicle performance, autonomous driving and ecosystem integration.

The opening marks a key milestone in Xiaomi EV's “Human x Car x Home” strategy and sets the stage for its planned entry into the European market in 2027. The company has already launched the Xiaomi SU7, SU7 Ultra and YU7 models in China.

“This expansion strengthens our ability to deliver vehicles that inspire, align with global safety standards and reflect Xiaomi's commitment to innovation,” the company said.

Founded in 2010 and listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Xiaomi has a global monthly active user base of 731.2 million and leads one of the world's largest consumer AIoT ecosystems with nearly one billion connected devices. It was ranked 297th on the Fortune Global 500 list in July 2025.