Those who keep tabs on China's tech sector are well-versed in a peculiar phenomenon: 'Xiaomi naturally attracts criticism.'

How should we interpret this? Simply peruse the comments section beneath Xiaomi-related news. Whenever Xiaomi achieves a milestone or unveils a new product, detractors are quick to voice their complaints and disparagements from every conceivable angle.

Despite the persistent slander, Xiaomi's momentum has only grown stronger since its foray into the automotive industry, and there's no stopping it now.

First, let's delve into the mobile phone segment. In 2024, Xiaomi emerged as the standout winner among global brands.

Why do I assert this? While Xiaomi's growth rate of 15.4% in 2024 wasn't the highest, its sales volume soared to 168.6 million units, an impressive increase of 22.5 million units from the 146.1 million sold in 2023. This unequivocally positions Xiaomi as the brand with the most significant sales growth globally.

Furthermore, as of January 2025, Xiaomi has ascended to the second-largest player in China.

It's worth noting that Xiaomi's performance in the Chinese market has been less than stellar in recent years. Approximately 75% of Xiaomi's mobile phones are sold overseas, yet Xiaomi phones continue to face intense criticism.

Now that Xiaomi has secured the second spot in the Chinese market, it's evident that Xiaomi phones are gaining traction domestically.

Next, let's shift our focus to Xiaomi Automobile.

Despite currently offering only one model, the SU7, and having just released the SU7 Ultra, the popularity of the SU7 is undeniable.

In just nine months of 2024, over 135,000 units were sold, with monthly sales now exceeding 20,000 units. This is solely due to production capacity constraints; if capacity were unlimited, sales would undoubtedly be even higher, considering Xiaomi still has over 100,000 pending orders for the SU7.

Its robust sales have propelled Xiaomi's market valuation to new heights, currently nearing HK$1.4 trillion. Among Chinese automakers, Xiaomi ranks first, and globally, it stands third, trailing only Tesla and Toyota.

It's clear that since venturing into the automotive industry, Xiaomi's business has undergone a comprehensive improvement, becoming increasingly impressive. Even its automotive endeavors have boosted mobile phone sales.

Recently, rumors circulated that Lei Jun had become China's richest man. Although Lei Jun later debunked these rumors, if Xiaomi continues its current trajectory, there's little doubt that Lei Jun will eventually claim that title.

It can be said that Lei Jun is truly triumphant now, as his decision to venture into the automotive industry was indeed spot-on. If Xiaomi hadn't embarked on this journey four years ago, would it be in its current formidable position?