Xiaomi: whose company it is, the history of the brand and the features of production

The question of whose firm Xiaomi is often raised by users who are first-time visitors to the brand’s products or are interested in the global electronics market. Despite the company’s “MI” logo being visible everywhere from stores in Moscow to shopping malls in Berlin, many still have no clear idea of the tech giant’s roots.

The answer to the question, “Whose firm is Xiaomi?” is rooted in the company’s founding story, which dates back to 2010, and is co-founded and co-founded by Lei Jun, who has brought together enthusiasts from companies like Kingsoft, Microsoft and Motorola, originally positioned as the creator of affordable flagships that offer high performance at a price significantly lower than that of eminent competitors like Samsung or Apple.

Xiaomi Corporation is now more than just an assembly shop, it is a full-fledged ecosystem that includes the development of its own processors, operating systems and even the automotive industry. Understanding who owns the brand helps consumers better navigate the product line and evaluate the quality of the devices offered. Let's get to the details of the origin and current status of the company.

Founders and history of the company

Xiaomi Technology was founded by Lei Jun, often referred to as “China’s Steve Jobs” for his charisma and product presentation skills. The company was officially incorporated on April 6, 2010 in Beijing. Lei Jun was already a successful entrepreneur, but dreamed of starting a company that would make smartphones that everyone could understand and access. The first product was the Android-based MIUI operating system, which was released in August 2010.

The uniqueness of the approach was that Xiaomi decided to sell its devices exclusively over the Internet, bypassing retail margins, which allowed to keep margins at no more than 5%, which was a revolutionary step. The brand’s fans, calling themselves “Mi Fans”, were actively involved in the development of software, offering ideas and finding bugs, and this model of interaction with the audience was the key to the rapid growth of popularity.

Importantly, the name "Xiaomi" translates from Chinese as "millet," and the founder explained the choice of the name by saying that millet is the basis of nutrition for the people, and the logo, the inverted character "xin" (heart), means "less." So the brand's concept was to make great products at fair prices. By 2014, the company had become the largest smartphone supplier in China, ahead of Samsung.

Geography of production and partner plants

Many users mistakenly believe that all Xiaomi devices are manufactured in a single factory, and the company’s supply chain is complex and distributed worldwide, with its main production certainly based in China, where huge automation complexes like the Smart Factory in Beijing are located, capable of producing millions of smartphones a year with minimal human input.

However, to optimize logistics and reduce customs duties, the company is actively developing assembly facilities in other countries, with smartphone assembly plants in India, Indonesia, Vietnam and even Europe (Hungary), for example, models for the Indian market are often assembled directly in India at the facilities of partners like Foxconn or Xiaomi’s own unit, while the quality of the assembly is controlled by uniform quality standards.

⚠️ Warning: If your smartphone box says "Made in India" or "Made in Indonesia," it doesn't mean fake.Global versions of devices are often assembled in localized factories to speed delivery to specific regions.

It’s also worth mentioning that Xiaomi doesn’t own all the factories directly, with a significant portion of the brand’s devices being made by contract manufacturers like Wingtech and Longcheer.These ODM (Original Design Manufacturer) giants design and build Xiaomi-specific phones, allowing the brand to scale quickly and launch multiple models simultaneously without building new factories for each line.

• 🏭 China (Beijing, Langfang): Main high-tech lines, flagship production.
• 🇮🇳 India (Sriperumbudur): Largest factory outside China, assembling budget and mid-range models.
• 🇮🇩 Indonesia (Karavang): Local Assembly for Southeast Asian Markets.
• 🇭🇺 Hungary (Komarom): Assembly line for European market, allowing to avoid part of duties.

Ownership structure and shareholders

In deciding whose firm Xiaomi is, the ownership structure cannot be ignored: the company is public and traded on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since 2018, which means that it is formally owned by shareholders, but the majority stake and key decisions are in the hands of founder Lei Jun and co-founders, a structure that allows for strategic independence and avoids short-term market fluctuations.

Major investors include funds such as Qiming Venture Partners and Temasek Holdings, a Singapore-based public investment fund that confirms the company’s financial strength, and unlike some other Chinese giants, Xiaomi is not under direct state control, although it operates under Chinese law.

It’s important to understand that Xiaomi Corporation is a holding company that invests in hundreds of other companies, creating what’s called the Mi ecosystem. These companies make smart kettles, robot vacuum cleaners, scooters and other equipment, selling it under the Xiaomi or Mijia brand. Thus, formally owning stakes in these startups, Xiaomi manages a huge conglomerate.

Corporation brands and sub-brands

To reach all market segments, the company has created a complex brand structure. This often confuses buyers who ask, "Is Redmi a standalone firm or part of Xiaomi?" The answer is simple: Redmi is a sub-brand launched in 2013 to sell budget devices online. In 2019, Redmi was spun off as an independent brand within the corporation, so as not to blur the positioning of Xiaomi's core brand.

Xiaomi's core brand now focuses on the premium segment and experimental technologies (the Mi series, and now just Xiaomi with digital indexes 13, 14, etc.) using the best cameras, screens and processors. The POCO brand, which emerged later, is geared towards enthusiasts and gamers, offering maximum performance ("flagship killer") at an affordable price, often using platforms developed for Redmi.

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Redmi, POCO Xiaomi and Xiaomi are trademarks of the same corporation, working on a single software platform. MIUI/HyperOS, but targeting different price niches.

The Black Shark brand was originally a partnership within the Xiaomi ecosystem specializing in gaming smartphones, and although Black Shark had its own legal entity, technology and software were closely intertwined with Xiaomi’s development, but in recent years the companies’ paths have diverged and Black Shark has faced financial difficulties, while Xiaomi continues to develop the gaming direction on its own.

Where is the headquarters and offices

Xiaomi Corporation’s global headquarters are located in Haidian, Beijing, China, and it is here that the Silicon Valley Technology Cluster of China hosts the main research and management offices. The Xiaomi Campus is a modern architectural complex that symbolizes the company’s commitment to innovation.

Regional offices are open to international markets, the European headquarters is located in Madrid, Spain, which allows you to effectively manage expansion in EU countries. Offices in Warsaw, Dubai, Singapore and Moscow coordinate logistics, marketing and user support in their regions. Local offices facilitate warranty service and product adaptation to local requirements.

⚠️ Warning: When looking for official support, always check the address on mi.com. Fraudsters often create fake service centers with similar names that are not related to the real company.

In Russia, despite changes in the logistics chain, the brand continues to be present through a network of authorized partners, and distributor offices provide equipment delivery, although Xiaomi’s direct office in Russia operates in the format of a representative office coordinating marketing activities.

Software ecosystem and HyperOS

You can't talk about Xiaomi without mentioning software. For a long time, the hallmark was the MIUI shell, which significantly modified Android. However, in 2023-2026, the company began a global transition to its own operating system HyperOS. This marks a shift from a smartphone manufacturer's strategy to a man-car-home strategy.

HyperOS is built on the Linux kernel and Xiaomi Vela’s own micro-kernel, allowing not only phones, but smart appliances, and even cars (Xiaomi SU7) to be integrated into a single network with minimal latency, answering the question of where the firm is headed: they are becoming a creator of a comprehensive habitat, not just a gadget seller.

For the user, this means deep integration of services. You can start watching a movie on your smartphone, continue on your tablet and display an image on your Xiaomi TV with a single button. The ecosystem has more than 500 million active devices worldwide, making it one of the largest IoT platforms.

Positioning in the global market

Today Xiaomi confidently enters the top-3 The company is a leader in India, Southeast Asia and is growing rapidly in Europe (especially in Italy, Spain and France.

But the firm faces challenges: Geopolitical tensions, patent disputes (like Nokia or Ericsson) and the need to comply with different regulatory requirements across countries require flexibility, and yet safety margins and diversification allow the company to remain resilient.

• 📈 Market Share: Stable Ranks Around 12-14% global smartphone market.
• 🚗 New Horizons: Entering the EV Market with a Model SU7.
• 🤝 Partnership: Collaborating with Leica to improve camera quality in flagships.

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When buying a smartphone, pay attention to the box marking: Global Version stands for international version with support for all languages and Google services out of the box. CN (Chinese) version will require firmware reflashing for comfortable use outside of China.