Xiaomi is just for fans. This brand has certainly made its mark with quality smartphones, tablets, and other smart home devices, but recently it delighted fans with its launch into the electric vehicle (EV) market. Now, another legendary smartphone brand could soon have its own EV. Drumroll, please.
The legendary smartphone brand is next in line for EVs
This is not a drill, people! Xiaomi is allegedly in talks with Samsung to join forces on the development of electric cars. These two brands are major competitors in the smartphone and consumer electronics markets, but they have joined forces before. Xiaomi has turned to Samsung countless times for AMOLED displays, memory, and storage chips for its mobile devices. This good relationship could potentially help drive a deal (pun intended) in the EV market.
Xiaomi officially launched the Xiaomi SU7, its first model of EVs, on March 28, 2024. Its entry into the EV market was successful, as it sold nearly 137,000 vehicles in its first year, resulting in approximately $4.5 billion. Impressive, we know. The ambition does not stop there. Xiaomi aims to increase the number of vehicles sold to 350,000 by 2025 and to expand its EVs to international markets by 2027.
The minds behind the potential collaboration
Chosun Ilbo reported that Lee Jae-yong, Chairman of Samsung Electronics, attended the China Development Forum (CDF) in Beijing. On March 22, Lee visited Xiaomi’s electric vehicle (EV) plant and held a meeting with Xiaomi Chairman Lei Jun. Another individual worth noting was Cristiano Amon, the CEO of Qualcomm, who also attended the meeting.
Lee attended CDF for the first time in two years. What makes it noteworthy is the attendance of other participants, including executives from major global companies such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Nestlé, and FedEx, as noted by Yonhap News Agency. Do you see where we are going with this?
Samsung and Xiaomi’s meeting could lead to a significant development
It was claimed that Lee and Lei Jun’s meeting seemingly focused on working together to further the growth of Xiaomi’s EV business. This meeting marks their first in seven years, which means a truly significant development for both the futures of Xiaomi’s electric car business and Samsung Electronics’ businesses.
As reported by Economic Daily News, Lei Jun briefed Lee on Xiaomi’s EV strategy, suggesting that Xiaomi could become a client of Samsung’s supply of automotive components.
So, if you were not aware, then yes, Samsung supplies automotive components for electric cars. Ever heard of Exynos chips? They are key parts of EVs and one of Samsung’s automotive components. This is one of the reasons why key roleplayers at Samsung are against the company’s planned internal restructuring of its semiconductor segment. If Samsung moves its Exynos chip design process to Samsung MX, it would help optimize it better for Galaxy mobile devices. However, it could complicate the sale of Exynos chips to third parties.
A strategic alliance could cement its mark in the mobility market
With Samsung judiciously expanding its stakes in vehicle-related technologies such as semiconductors, infotainment systems, displays, and batteries, it is quite evident that Lee is focusing on the future mobility market. It was reported that he has identified automotive electronics as a key pillar in Samsung’s next phase of growth, marking a possible alliance with Xiaomi as a strategic move.
NEWSIS reported that a possible strategic alliance among Samsung, Xiaomi, and Qualcomm in the automotive electronics sector is also taking shape following Samsung Electronics’ memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed with Qualcomm earlier this year to supply OLED displays for EVs.
So far, the possible collaboration simply remains a mere claim, and only time will tell whether it will be realized. Inspired by their slogan, we hope Samsung imagines what they can do together. (Xiaomi posts EV business loss in Q1 2026 – electrive.com)