How Xiaomi’s EV push exposed a culture of overwork

Xiaomi has faced scrutiny over its workplace culture as it pivots from smartphones to EVs.

The concern grew after Wang Peizhi, who managed retail store conversions for the company’s EV launch, died of a heart attack at age 34 in August 2024.

His workload reportedly increased after Xiaomi cut its retail team during the pandemic and sped up its EV rollout.

Internal records show Wang handled at least 267 stores in the first eight months of 2024, often working late into the night.

Local authorities said his death was not work-related, though his widow believes excessive hours contributed.

Xiaomi said it supports Wang’s family and expressed condolences.

Long work hours remain common in China’s tech sector as firms compete in EVs and AI.

🔗 Source: Bloomberg

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

Xiaomi’s EV ambitions hinge on a retail network built faster than production capacity can support

Xiaomi added 22 stores in October 2025, taking the network to 424 across 125 cities 1. Production still lags, with SU7 waits up to 48 weeks 2.
By August 2025, the network reached 370 stores to back a 350,000 unit delivery goal 3. Output that month was about 37,380 units, with Deutsche Bank expecting monthly run rate above 50,000 in the fourth quarter of 2025 4.
The gap drove a rush on store conversions during the pandemic even as retail teams shrank. The brand needed showrooms to catch demand before plants could deliver, which piled pressure on buildout staff.

Battery and semiconductor suppliers can capture short-term volume as Xiaomi races to close its capacity gap

Second-phase work at the Beijing plant began equipment testing in July 2025 with 150,000 annual capacity 5. A third-phase facility targets 450,000 a year 5. Those builds open near-term orders for CATL (China’s largest EV battery maker) batteries 6, Qualcomm (a U.S. chip designer) chips 6, and Nvidia (supplier of automotive computing platforms) autonomous driving components 6.
September 2025 deliveries passed 40,000 units 7. Internal plans aim for 400,000 to 500,000 in 2026 3. Suppliers that secure multi-year contracts now can ride the ramp.