Two job ads have provided proof that Xiaomi, the communications colossus that has morphed into a carmaker, is officially laying the foundations for its entry into the Australian market. The third-biggest mobile phone company on the planet has ambitious plans to expand around the globe after first making headlines with its high-performance SU7 Ultra sedan.

The ads recruiting for two top-level positions in Xiaomi’s Aussie operations appeared on LinkedIn within the last few weeks, and the job descriptions make it clear that the Chinese brand is certain to establish a presence in local showrooms.

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One of the listings is for a Sydney-based ‘product manager, international instalment finance’ with duties including fostering ties with banks and leasing companies down under, and tellingly, establishing the “management framework and policies governing the customised development, launch and iteration of overseas auto finance products”.

The other listing seeks a senior legal counsel, again based in Sydney. The successful candidate for that job will be “responsible for our Australian Automotive Business in a highly dynamic and international environment”.

The senior counsel will provide support on legal matters involving sales and after-sales, draft national and international contracts, offer advice on Australian laws and regulations, and draft policies and contract templates, among other duties.

Xiaomi’s upcoming entry to the local market comes at a time of terrific brand expansion down under. For example, Chery just added Luxeed to its Aussie stable, bringing the carmaker’s total number of brands down under to nine. That news, revealed late last month, came just days after another Chery offshoot, the premium Exlantix badge, was slated to start local operations next year.

While the job ads don’t include any information on the models Xiaomi intends to bring to Australia, the brand sells three relatively high-end models in China: the SU7 sedan, Skynomad large SUV and YU7 SUV. It does not currently make any right-hand drive vehicles. 

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The brand’s international expansion plans have targeted Europe first, with exports to Germany targeted to begin next year, and production of right-hand drive models following in 2028.

 Xiaomi has made its mark in a very short period of time, considering it only made the move into carmaking in 2021. Its first production vehicle, the SU7, was launched in March 2024. It has become a hit in the Chinese market, and found fame in car circles when its high-performance variant, the Ultra, broke the production electric car lap record at the Nürburgring Nordschleife in June 2025.

Xiaomi turned heads at the Nordschleife again back in May, when its YU7 GT became the quickest SUV around the famous track with a time of 7 minutes, 34.391 seconds – just under two seconds ahead of the previous record holder, Audi’s RS Q8.