Emir BardakçıXiaomi just made a power move by bringing on Kai Langer, the former BMW i Series Design Director, as part of their growing automotive ambitions. After over twenty years at BMW, Langer joined Xiaomi as of August 1st—so, this isn’t just another hire; it’s Xiaomi signaling they’re not here to play in the electric vehicle (EV) space. Langer was instrumental in shaping BMW’s electric lineup—from the early 2000s all the way to the launch of the i3 in 2013, which, love it or hate it, forced the entire auto industry to rethink EV aesthetics.
Langer’s track record speaks for itself. He’s not just a designer; he’s the guy who helped BMW’s i series stand out and set the tone for what a premium electric vehicle could look like. His philosophy was all about making sure you knew the car was electric—and still 100% BMW. Now, Xiaomi’s betting that his expertise can give them a unique edge as they ramp up their own EV designs.
The timing here isn’t a coincidence. Xiaomi’s rapidly expanding its EV division, and landing a talent like Langer shows they’re serious about competing, especially in the premium segment where design is everything. Langer even mentioned on LinkedIn how Xiaomi is “one of the most progressive and rising large tech companies in the world,” and this move definitely backs that up.
Bottom line: Xiaomi’s leveraging its strengths in innovation and tech—think of what they did for smartphones—and bringing that energy into the automotive industry. With Langer on board, they’re positioning themselves to be more than just another EV startup—they want to set trends, not follow them.
For those tracking Xiaomi’s next moves, there’s the MemeOS Enhancer app on the Play Store for updates—because, in typical Xiaomi fashion, they’re keeping their fanbase in the loop across every product line.
Source: ITHome
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