EVwire brief: Xiaomi has hired several former Tesla China leaders as it attempts to achieve its ambitious goal of delivering 550,000 electric vehicles in 2026.
Among the reported hires are Kong Yanshuang, former general manager of Tesla China, and Song Gang, former Vice President of Manufacturing at Tesla Gigafactory Shanghai.
Kong led Tesla’s sales system and brand expansion in China, while Song played a central role in scaling Gigafactory Shanghai into one of the world’s highest-output EV factories.
Xiaomi has also hired Dieter Lorenz, Tesla’s former Senior Manager of Delivery Operations for Central Europe, as its new Head of Delivery & Logistics for Europe.
The hires point to a focused effort by Xiaomi to improve both its retail execution and production efficiency as it transitions from rapid launch growth to sustained scale.
Xiaomi’s initial momentum is tapering down
Xiaomi delivered over 79,000 vehicles in the first quarter of 2026, only slightly ahead of the same period last year.
To reach its 550,000 annual target, the company would need to average more than 50,000 deliveries per month for the remainder of the year.
Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun set a goal of 550,000 EV deliveries for 2026 (Source)
That level has only been achieved once, in December 2025. Xiaomi sold over 39,000 vehicles in January, over 20,000 vehicles in February, and over 20,000 vehicles in March.
Following the launch of the revamped SU7, which started deliveries last month, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun confirmed that the vehicle received 40,000 locked orders. This was lower than the locked orders that the first-generation SU7 received in 2024.
The revamped Xiaomi SU7 received 40,000 locked orders following its launch
This, however, could be caused by the presence of the YU7, which competes in the crossover segment. The same trend has been exhibited by Tesla, with the Model 3 being consistently outsold by the Model Y.
Xiaomi is one of the fastest-rising electric vehicle players in the Chinese market, and its first two vehicles, the SU7 sedan and YU7 crossover, have been received positively by consumers and reviewers alike.
The company already operates multiple facilities in Beijing with a combined capacity approaching 450,000 units annually. A separate Wuhan plant is also planned, further increasing output potential.
The Xiaomi YU7 is a crossover, and it is currently experiencing the “Model Y” effect
Tesla China’s playbook has shaped Xiaomi’s EV strategy
In a comment to Jiemian News, an employee from Xiaomi Auto mentioned that the company’s retail and operational systems were initially modeled on Tesla China’s approach.
Industry observers note that Tesla’s structured approach to sales, data, and frontline execution is well-suited to Xiaomi’s current phase, where growth depends less on initial demand spikes and more on consistent delivery.
Xiaomi’s retail and operational systems were reportedly modeled after Tesla China’s model
\Bringing in experienced leaders from Tesla China should help Xiaomi optimize its execution as it moves toward the next stage of its business.
Source: 36kr European Central Station and Dieter Lorenz on LinkedIn
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