Xiaomi's electric-vehicle business has established an International Business Department to formalize its overseas expansion efforts, Sina Technology reported on November 6. Automotive vice president Yu Liguo will serve as the general manager of the new department.
Yu will report jointly to Xiaomi founder and CEO Lei Jun, who heads the automotive business, and group president Lu Weibing. This move follows the creation of an overseas business preparation group in May, which Yu also led. According to Sina, the new department is an organizational follow-through rather than the first announcement of Xiaomi's intent to sell cars abroad.
The new department encompasses go-to-market, sales, network development, delivery and logistics, user services, general management, and regional overseas teams. These units report to Yu and cover the operating chain required to move vehicles from market preparation through customer handover and after-sales support.
Sina reports that an automotive international marketing unit will have a separate dual reporting line to Yu and Xiaomi's group marketing leadership. This structure is designed to distinguish international marketing responsibilities from regional execution, sales channels, and service operations.
These organizational changes align with Xiaomi's previously stated schedule. Sina cites Lu as saying the automotive business expects to begin its international expansion in the second half of 2027, starting in Europe, followed by right-hand-drive markets in the first half of 2028.
Xiaomi previously announced at IFA 2026 that it would enter European markets, including Germany, in 2027. As an initial step toward a retail and service network, the company signed memorandums of understanding with eight German automotive dealer groups. Sina notes those memorandums indicate preparatory partnerships and are not evidence that overseas deliveries have already begun.
