Barely two years after launching its car business, China’s largest smartphone maker Xiaomi is seeking to become one of Europe’s top five premium brands. The company has chosen Germany, one of the region’s most fiercely competitive markets, to launch in Europe next year. Looking to crack the region’s premium market by 2030, it has recruited engineers and designers from BMW, Porsche and Tesla. “I believe China’s auto industry needs to aim higher to create truly world-class vehicles,” Xiaomi’s founder Lei Jun said at the Beijing Auto Show in April. “That’s the value Xiaomi can bring.” The group is at the forefront of a new wave of tech-focused Chinese electric-vehicle makers, including Xpeng, Li Auto and Huawei-backed Aito, seeking to expand overseas. Some European dealers have started to notice the newer Chinese carmakers with their advanced software and autonomous technologies, coming into international markets behind the bigger brands.

Full report : The first in a series on Chinese carmakers in Europe examines the overseas ambitions of Xiaomi, Xpeng, Li Auto and Aito.