AsianFin -- Xiaomi plans to begin selling electric vehicles in Europe by 2027, with preparations already underway to secure showroom locations across the continent.

The announcement was made by Xu Fei, vice president of the Beijing-based company, during a CNBC interview that aired Thursday. She said executives conducted field research in June, visiting multiple European cities to assess potential sales sites and develop a local distribution strategy.

“We had our field research here in June,” Xu said. “A couple of executives are leading the field research so that we are preparing for the sales network and partnerships. The whole organization is getting started.”

Xiaomi’s European expansion will put it in competition with other Chinese EV makers, including Xpeng and Guangzhou Automobile Group, which have already entered the market.

The company confirmed it will not design a new vehicle specifically for Europe; the models sold there will likely be adapted versions of existing vehicles. While Xu did not specify which model will launch first, Xiaomi’s SU7 sedan and YU7 SUV—both flagship vehicles launched last year—are likely candidates. Since entering the automotive market, Xiaomi has delivered over 300,000 units, boosting its shares by more than 170% over the past 12 months.