Former Tesla China Head Kong Yanshuang Joins Xiaomi Auto to Lead Sales System Development

Kong Yanshuang, former General Manager of Tesla China, has joined Xiaomi and is now responsible for automotive sales-related work, succeeding Li Xiaorui, former Director of Xiaomi Auto. She joined in early March and is currently in a transition period; no official appointment announcement has been made yet. Kong previously led Tesla’s sales and brand promotion efforts in China for an extended period and was one of Tesla China’s core executives. Also joining around the same time was another Tesla veteran known as “Eason,” who has taken on the role of “Political Commissar” within Xiaomi Auto and entered the company’s Staff Department—a strategic advisory unit that directly supports the CEO in formulating corporate strategy. It is highly unusual for new hires to join this department directly, underscoring the significance of these appointments. It is reported that Xiaomi Auto’s retail system has drawn heavily from Tesla’s model since its initial planning stages, with many regional sales heads having prior experience at Tesla. The recent influx of multiple Tesla-affiliated executives is expected to accelerate the integration and development of Xiaomi’s automotive retail network. Xiaomi Auto aims to deliver over 410,000 vehicles in 2025. As of February 2026, cumulative deliveries have already surpassed 600,000 units, and the company has set a delivery target of 550,000 units for 2026.