Xiaomi Takes the Driver’s Seat in Europe’s Direct-Import EV Market

Ahead of its official entry, the Chinese tech giant Xiaomi’s electric cars are already finding homes across key EU markets.

Xiaomi may not officially enter the European electric vehicle market until 2027, but European buyers are already driving its cars. Through the online platform China EV Marketplace, Xiaomi has emerged as the top-selling electric vehicle brand for direct imports into several major EU countries in 2025.

China EV Marketplace, which describes itself as the world’s largest online retailer of Chinese electric vehicles, recently released its annual sales overview. The data shows Xiaomi leading direct EV imports in markets such as Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, and more than a dozen other European countries. While exact sales numbers were not shared, the platform confirmed it delivered around 11,000 vehicles globally in 2025, up from just 3,400 the previous year, marking a sharp 224% increase.

The platform’s growing popularity comes from how much it simplifies the buying process. European customers can now order type-approved electric cars and plug-in hybrids directly from China and have them delivered to their door, with customs and paperwork handled for them. Just a year earlier, buyers had to manage imports themselves and collect vehicles from ports.

China EV Marketplace shifted fully to New Energy Vehicles in 2022, dropping combustion engines entirely. Europe is now a major focus. In 2026, the company plans to launch an aftersales service network and pilot a stock-vehicle program to improve delivery times and customer support.

Still, challenges remain. New EU tariffs of up to 35% on Chinese electric vehicles are affecting prices, though plug-in hybrids remain exempt for now. Even so, Xiaomi’s early success suggests Europe’s appetite for innovative, tech-driven EVs is already accelerating, well ahead of official launch timelines.