Xiaomi's Lei Jun: 'Without Safety, Everything Is Zero' as EV Deliveries Top 800,000

At the 2026 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Congress on October 21, Xiaomi founder, chairman and CEO Lei Jun said the auto industry "without safety, everything is zero," stressing that intelligent features and innovative design lose their meaning without safety as the foundation. Lei disclosed that Xiaomi's EV deliveries have surpassed 800,000 units with an average selling price above 260,000 yuan, and that over the past five years Xiaomi has invested 105.5 billion yuan in core technology, with planned R&D of more than 200 billion yuan over the next five. He described the "second half" of the intelligent-connected era as a contest of ecosystem strength rather than just how smart a car is, arguing that China's complete supply chain, vibrant AI innovation and largest single market give it a path to a distinctly Chinese style of automotive innovation. On the same day Xiaomi formally opened its new Beijing automotive design center and launched a public design exhibition, further completing its independent design and R&D system.

Source: Shanghai Observer / Sina Finance / NetEase, Oct 22, 2026 | 2026-10-22