With the global manufacturing industry entering a new phase of digital and intelligent transformation, the concept of the smart factory has gradually become a core pathway for enterprises to enhance competitiveness under the framework of Industry 4.0....
With the global manufacturing industry entering a new phase of digital and intelligent transformation, the concept of the smart factory has gradually become a core pathway for enterprises to enhance competitiveness under the framework of Industry 4.0. A smart factory not only represents automation and flexible production but also embodies data-driven decision-making, ecosystem collaboration, and innovations in strategic management models. In the context of China’s rapidly growing new energy vehicle (NEV) industry, Xiaomi Automobile, as a new entrant, has attracted wide attention. The construction and operation of its smart factory in Beijing Yizhuang serve both as an important case of corporate strategic transformation and as a vivid example for understanding the trajectory of smart manufacturing in China.
This study takes Xiaomi’s Yizhuang smart factory as the core case, aiming to systematically investigate its operational mechanisms and strategic management model. The research has two main objectives: first, to reveal the practical performance of the smart factory in aspects such as production ramp-up, quality assurance, green manufacturing, and intelligent collaboration; and second, to analyze the challenges faced in areas including financial pressure, delivery cycle, supply chain dependency, and talent development, thereby summarizing experiences and lessons that may be valuable for other enterprises.
In terms of methodology, the thesis combines both qualitative and quantitative approaches. First, a theoretical framework of smart factory strategic management was constructed based on a literature review. Second, PEST and SWOT analyses were employed to identify Xiaomi Automobile’s external environment and internal strengths and weaknesses. Third, the Balanced Scorecard (Kaplan & Norton, 1992) was applied to evaluate Xiaomi’s strategic implementation across multiple dimensions, while empirical data—including Xiaomi’s financial reports, industry survey results, and authoritative media reports—were introduced for validation. Finally, a comparative case study was conducted with Tesla’s Shanghai factory and BYD’s Xi’an factory to highlight similarities, differences, and Xiaomi’s unique characteristics.
The findings reveal that Xiaomi’s smart factory exhibits a mixture of strengths and challenges. In terms of efficiency and flexibility, the factory achieved a cycle time of 76 seconds per vehicle and delivered 100,000 SU7 units within 230 days in its first year, placing it ahead of most emerging EV makers. Regarding quality control, the first-pass yield exceeded 98%, and no large-scale recalls have occurred, reflecting strong process consistency. For green manufacturing, the factory already utilizes 40% green electricity, with a plan to increase this to 80% within five years, highlighting its commitment to sustainability. In terms of intelligent and ecosystem collaboration, Xiaomi integrated MES, PLM, and digital twin technologies to achieve data transparency, while linking production with the Mi Home ecosystem to form a “factory–product–user” closed loop.
However, several issues remain evident. Financially, Xiaomi reported a loss of 252 million USD in Q2 2024, with an average per-vehicle loss of approximately 9,200 USD, and its profit model remains unclear. On the customer side, delivery cycles extended to 38–60 weeks, leading to more than 400 complaints and significant reputational risks. In the supply chain dimension, Xiaomi remains highly dependent on external suppliers for core components such as batteries and chips, making it vulnerable to raw material price volatility. In terms of talent and organizational structure, although the R&D team exceeds 1,000 members, the company lacks deep manufacturing experience and sufficient interdisciplinary talent, which constrains long-term sustainability.
The contributions of this study lie in three aspects. First, it integrates PEST, SWOT, and the Balanced Scorecard into a multi-dimensional framework, effectively bridging strategic management theories with a practical smart manufacturing case. Second, the analysis is grounded in real-world data rather than abstract discussion, thereby enhancing the empirical rigor of the study. Third, by comparing Xiaomi with Tesla and BYD, the research highlights the unique strategic trajectory of a Chinese internet-based enterprise crossing over into automobile manufacturing.
In conclusion, the case of Xiaomi’s smart factory provides both references for its own strategic improvement and broader insights for Chinese manufacturing enterprises undergoing digital and intelligent transformation.
Keywords: Xiaomi; Smart Factory; New Energy Vehicles; Smart Manufacturing; Strategic Management; Production and Operations Management