Chinese tech giant and EV maker Xiaomi has hired Kai Langer, a former designer for German legacy automaker BMW for over 20 years.
The exact role is not yet clear, with the executive describing it on his LinkedIn as “Customer / Brand / Product.” Langer will continue to be based in Munich, where Xiaomi opened its first European R&D center earlier this year.
Langer announced on LinkedIn earlier this week that, “after more than two decades with the BMW Group,” he would be joining Xiaomi in Germany from August 1.
The designer had been working for BMW since 2003, serving as a Creative Director for the group since 2016. In 2019, he was promoted to the Head of Design of the BMW i series.
Last October, the BMW veteran became responsible for MINI Interior as the new Head of Design.
Langer joins former colleague Rudolf Dittrich, who is the Head of Xiaomi‘s R&D center in Munich since last year.
Dittrich was part of the BMW Group for over 15 years, serving as General Manager of Small Volume Series from 2021 to 2024.
The establishment of the Chinese tech giant’s EV R&D center in Bavaria was first noticed by media outlet 36Kr in late April.
According to the report, the team was allegedly doing performance tuning work for the brand’s subsequent models, including the YU7 SUV — which was launched in late June in China.
In early July, the company registered its first ever vehicle in both Germany and across Europe. The milestone was shared by the company’s president and head of the Smartphone unit, [William] Lu Weibing.
“Today I test-drove the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra in Munich, Germany. This is also our first test vehicle to be registered in Europe,” Lu wrote.
Although no specific markets or timeline have been unveiled until now, Xiaomi plans to start overseas sales in 2027, as reaffirmed by CEO Lei Jun last month.
Until then, the company intends to focus on its domestic market, as it ramps up production of both its SU7 sedan and YU7 SUV — which currently hold delivery times of over a year.
The company secured 240,000 locked-in orders of its second model in the first 18 hours.
In July, Xiaomi delivered “over 30,000” EVs, a new monthly record as it started deliveries of the new model.
The company aims for its 2025 deliveries to reach 350,000 units. As of July 31, the automaker had reached about 53% of the guidance.
