Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun
AsianFin -- Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun delivered a rare, emotionally charged address to all employees on Thursday, just days after the company was rocked by a high-profile traffic accident involving its SU7 electric vehicle.
The speech, delivered following Xiaomi's internal Values Competition, offered an unfiltered reflection on the incident’s deep impact and set the tone for the company’s next chapter—one with no room for rookie errors.
“We were completely blindsided,” Lei said. “None of us expected the impact to be this severe. But this crash made it clear—Xiaomi is no longer a newcomer. The grace period is over.
The late March accident involving the SU7 drew intense public scrutiny and sparked a wave of criticism across Chinese media and social platforms. Lei admitted the backlash hit Xiaomi “like a storm,” shaking the company's confidence and derailing its 15th anniversary celebrations.
“We had planned a series of celebrations and reflections for our 15th year,” Lei said. “But the accident shattered all of that.”
Lei noted that Xiaomi, which only entered the automotive sector four years ago, had always treated vehicle safety as a top priority. Yet the company now realizes that public expectations far exceed compliance and industry averages—Xiaomi must lead in automotive safety outright.
“We must go beyond meeting standards or leading the pack—we must set new benchmarks for safety in our category,” Lei emphasized.
Lei acknowledged that Xiaomi’s massive scale, public profile, and influence demand that it step into the role of a mature corporate leader, not just an ambitious innovator.
“We used to think of ourselves as a startup in the car business. But this incident made it clear: society sees us as a major player. And we must act like one,” he said.
“At 15 years old, Xiaomi is no longer an industry rookie. There is no such thing as a 'newbie buffer zone' anymore.”
Despite the somber tone, Lei used the opportunity to announce a major breakthrough: Xiaomi’s first self-developed mobile SoC chip, the “Surge O1”, is set for release later this month.
“This marks a pivotal milestone in our 10-year chipmaking journey,” Lei said. “It’s not just a product launch—it’s the starting point of a new chapter in hardcore tech.”
Xiaomi has invested over RMB 105 billion in R&D over the past five years, with more than RMB 30 billion earmarked for this year alone. The chip is part of Lei’s long-term vision for Xiaomi to become a global leader in next-generation technologies.
Reflecting on Xiaomi’s growth since its founding in 2010, Lei said the company has proven its resilience through cycles of adversity.
“In 2019, we told our partners: ‘Only strong grass can survive the storm; only time reveals a true horse’s strength.’ Today, Xiaomi is stronger than it has ever been.”
Still, Lei admitted that complete recognition remains elusive.
“I once believed it would take 15 years for the world to fully understand Xiaomi. It turns out we were too optimistic. Fifteen years wasn’t enough—but that’s okay. We’ll keep going, until we’re truly seen for who we are.”
The SU7 incident appears to be a defining moment for Xiaomi—not just in how it makes cars, but in how it governs itself. With Lei’s pledge to go beyond compliance and confront issues head-on, the message to employees and the public is clear: Xiaomi is growing up fast.
“We won’t avoid problems,” Lei said. “We’ll confront them. That’s the only way to meet the public’s expectations—and to be worthy of their trust.”
