The Xiaomi SU7 and YU7 have been absolute hits, impressing both on the track and in sales. Still, many enthusiasts have criticised their styling as derivative, with clear inspiration from brands like McLaren, Ferrari, and Porsche. That could soon change, with former BMW i Division design head, Kai Langer, now joining the company.
Langer spent over two decades at BMW, since joining the German carmaker in 2003. Over the years, he became Creative Director in 2016, Head of Design for the BMW i division in 2019, and was appointed Head of MINI Interior Design in 2024.
During the years when he was the Head of Design for BMW i division, Langer helped shape nearly every major electric concept car from the brand — most notably, the BMW i4, the BMW iX, and the BMW Vision Neue Klasse.
For now, his official position in Xiaomi remains a mystery, with his LinkedIn profile showing only “Customer / Brand / Product”. However, common sense suggests that he will most likely be heading up the design department at Xiaomi.
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Langer will remain in Munich where Xiaomi has been establishing a dedicated electric vehicle (EV) R&D centre. There, Langer will reunite with his former BMW colleague, Rudolf Dittrich, who joined Xiaomi in 2024 after 15 years at the brand and now leads the aforementioned R&D centre.
On a LinkedIn post, Langer said, “After more than two decades within the BMW Group and a lot of amazing projects and responsibilities I had the pleasure to work in, I decided to take the step to a new challenge. From the first of August, I will join one of the most progressive and uprising big tech players in the world.”
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“Xiaomi, already established in the tech and consumer electronics market, and with a moon rocketing debut in the automotive industry is ramping up their business and is giving me the chance to be a strong part of it. I am very curious about the possibilities that will be given to me to keep going to create a bright future,” he added.
As Xiaomi’s footprint in Munich expands along with the addition of Kai Langer, it shows clear signs that Xiaomi intends to go global. With Langer now on board, the question is whether he’ll refine the existing models or forge an entirely new design identity for the years ahead.
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