Xiaomi’s automotive ambitions have shifted into a higher gear with the strategic acquisition of two veteran architects of Tesla’s success in China. The tech giant, led by billionaire founder Lei Jun, has reportedly secured Kong Yanshuang, a former core executive of Tesla’s China sales apparatus, and Song Gang, the man often credited with steering the rapid production ramp-up at Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory. These hires signal a aggressive move by Xiaomi to transition from a successful market entry to a period of institutionalized dominance.
Kong Yanshuang, who previously served as a regional general manager for Tesla, is expected to take the helm of Xiaomi’s sales operations. Her tenure at Tesla was marked by a period of unprecedented growth, including the milestone where the Model Y became China’s best-selling vehicle in late 2022. By bringing Kong into the fold, Xiaomi is clearly looking to refine its '1+N' sales model—a hybrid system of self-operated delivery centers and specialized retail touchpoints—to better compete in an increasingly crowded premium EV market.
On the manufacturing side, the recruitment of Song Gang is perhaps even more telling. As the former Vice President of Manufacturing at Tesla’s Shanghai plant, Song is a specialist in the 'Tesla Speed' that revolutionized the industry. His arrival at Xiaomi, potentially as a co-director of the automotive factory alongside existing leadership, suggests that Xiaomi is prioritizing manufacturing efficiency and supply chain integration as it seeks to meet soaring demand for its flagship SU7 model.
This talent migration comes at a critical juncture for Xiaomi Auto. With cumulative deliveries reportedly surpassing 600,000 units by early 2026, the company is no longer a mere challenger but a major incumbent. The challenge now lies in scaling that success across a nationwide network that already spans over 150 cities. Poaching from the Tesla alumni network allows Xiaomi to bypass the steep learning curves that typically plague hardware startups, effectively buying a battle-tested playbook for global-scale operations.