Chinese brand Xiaomi, a rival to brands including Tesla and Zeekr, is set for Australian new-car showrooms, having advertised multiple Sydney-based roles on social media.
While not officially confirmed by the company, several positions have been advertised by Xiaomi Technology for jobs in Australia, all but confirming its electric vehicles (EVs) and extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs) are coming here.
Most significantly, one of the Sydney-based roles advertised is for a ‘Senior Legal Counsel (Automotive)’, with responsibilities including “Automotive sales and after-sales legal matters”.
There has been no official confirmation or announcement
There has been no official confirmation or announcement that the brand will be sold here, and no indication of precise launch timing or when Xiaomi vehicles – which include sedans and SUVs – will arrive in local showrooms.
As the company confirmed at its investor day in April 2026 that it would begin its overseas expansion in the second half of 2027, starting with Europe, before launching in right-hand drive markets during the first half of 2028
The world’s third-largest smartphone maker by sales volume, behind Samsung and Apple, the tech company launched its first vehicle, the battery-electric SU7 sports sedan, in China in 2024.
A rival to the Porsche Taycan and Tesla
A rival to the Porsche Taycan and Tesla Model 3 Performance, the SU7 Ultra, the flagship performance model, produces 1138kW, with a claimed 0–100km/h time of 2.0 seconds and a top speed of 350km/h.
Its price in China of ¥529,900 (A$113,224) is well below the cheapest Taycan’s ¥918,000 (A$196,150), but more than the Model 3 Performance’s ¥339,500 (A$72,542).
In Australia, the Model 3 Performance is $80,900 before on-roads, with the Taycan starting at $181,200 before on-roads.
Xiaomi apologised to owners in 2025 after reducing
Xiaomi apologised to owners in 2025 after reducing the power output of the SU7 Ultra for existing owners.
The SU7’s follow-up, the electric YU7 SUV – which outsold the Tesla Model Y, a key competitor, in January 2026 in China – has a high-performance GT variant which currently holds both the SUV lap record and the autonomous driving lap record at the famed Nürburgring race circuit in Germany.
In July 2026, Xiaomi unveiled a range of ‘SkyNomad’ extended-range SUVs, the first produced on a new ‘Xiaomi Kunlun’ platform, with a flat floor, configurable seating and the brand’s first EREV powertrain.
An EREV powertrain uses a petrol engine
An EREV powertrain uses a petrol engine as a generator for a battery, which feeds electric motor(s) to drive the wheels; the petrol engine is never used to drive the wheels.
The SkyNomad range includes the five-seat N70, which measures 4960mm long and is priced from ¥209,900 (A$44,850) to compete with the Wey V8X and Leapmotor C16 in China, neither of which is currently sold in Australia.
The N70 sits on a 2950mm wheelbase, with all variants using a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine teamed with one or two electric motors, depending on grade, offering up to 310kW and as much as 505km of electric range (CLTC).
Priced from ¥269,900 (A$57,670) in China, the larger
Priced from ¥269,900 (A$57,670) in China, the larger N90 has a 3080mm wheelbase and a longer 5285mm body to offer seven seats in a two-plus-two-plus-three layout. It uses the same powertrain family as the N70, with an electric range of 464km (CLTC) and a claimed combined range of 1705km.
In Australia, it would rival the Zeekr 9X PHEV and the Xpeng GX, the latter to be offered with EV and EREV powertrains overseas, but with Xpeng Australia yet to confirm which powertrains will be sold here.
Already a hyper-competitive market, Australia would see Xiaomi join a raft of new brands for new-car buyers to choose from, with the most recent announcements including Lepas, iCaur (both owned by Chery) and Rox – known for its emergency in-car toilet.
In Australia, Chinese-made cars outsold vehicles made
In Australia, Chinese-made cars outsold vehicles made in any other individual country for the first time in February 2026, with the Tesla Model Y topping sales in May to become both the first EV and first Chinese-made car to take the number one position.
To the end of September 2026, Chinese-made vehicles accounted for 34.8 per cent of all new vehicles sold in Australia year-to-date.
MORE:Xiaomi’s new SUVs are hybrids with EV-sized battery packs
