By Wang Xin / Layout by Gu Qingqing

On the evening of June 26, following the Xiaomi People, Vehicles, and Home Ecosystem Conference, Lei Jun calmly disclosed a pivotal detail: CATL will soon establish supporting facilities in Yizhuang.

This announcement underscores Xiaomi Auto's strategic plan to foster integration within the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei auto industry chain.

Lei Jun's words were straightforward, reflecting the simple yet profound goal of Beijing-based enterprises to take root and thrive: "When we decided to manufacture cars in Beijing, we had a clear prerequisite for selecting supplier partners. If you are a supplier from Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei or Beijing itself, you will be given preference and additional consideration under equal conditions."

01 CATL's Entry: The Crucial Link in Xiaomi Auto's Supply Chain

CATL's battery manufacturing base in Yizhuang is progressing swiftly. This project marks CATL's first battery factory in North China, spanning an area of 260,000 square meters and designed as a 'Lighthouse + Zero Carbon Factory' to high standards.

Strategically located on Plot N43 in Yizhuang, the factory is mere walls away from Xiaomi Auto's plant, a rare proximity in the automotive manufacturing sector.

The CATL project is listed among Beijing's 2024 '3-100' key projects. The factory will be built in two phases and is expected to commence full-scale production in 2026.

Upon commencing production, it will directly supply power batteries to new energy vehicle enterprises such as BAIC, Xiaomi Auto, and Li Auto.

Lei Jun is acutely aware of this development: "In terms of batteries, since CATL will soon establish supporting facilities in Yizhuang, they can effectively be considered a Beijing-based supplier." This localized support approach is redefining the traditional layout of the new energy vehicle industry.

Xiaomi Auto's Phase II factory is situated in Majuqiao Town, Tongzhou District, and recently passed inspection, with production anticipated to commence in June this year. Coupled with CATL's supporting facilities, Xiaomi's industrial footprint in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region is forming a cohesive closed loop.

02 Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Coordination: The Multiplicative Effect of Industrial Integration

When Xiaomi Auto chose to establish its car manufacturing project in Beijing four years ago, it did so with a clear regional development vision.

Lei Jun is candid: "What was the primary reason we chose to manufacture cars in Beijing four years ago? Xiaomi is a Beijing-based enterprise, so how can we contribute to aligning with national strategies, specifically the coordinated development of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei?"

Xiaomi has established clear guidelines for supplier selection: Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei enterprises will be prioritized under equal conditions. This strategy is already yielding results. Lei Jun revealed: "Excluding battery manufacturers, approximately 30% to 40% of our suppliers hail from Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei."

With CATL's entry, this proportion will significantly increase. Lei Jun estimates: "With the addition of batteries, potentially 60% to 70% of our support will come from Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei." This leap in local support will substantially enhance supply chain efficiency.

The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei auto industry chain is accelerating its integration, fueled by Xiaomi Auto. This integration goes beyond mere geographical proximity; it represents a profound integration driven by leading enterprises, fostering collaborative innovation among upstream and downstream enterprises.

03 Industrial Ecology: Reshaping Beijing's New Energy Landscape

Beijing Era Power Battery Co., Ltd. has completed its registration in Yizhuang. This enterprise is a joint venture between CATL, BAIC, Beijing Energy Technology, and Xiaomi Auto. This cooperation model transcends the traditional buyer-seller relationship between OEMs and suppliers, fostering a deeply integrated industrial ecosystem.

Xiaomi's layout in Beijing extends beyond vehicle manufacturing. Through its subsidiary Jingxi Technology, Xiaomi is constructing a Phase II factory in Majuqiao Town, Tongzhou District. Additionally, in Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone's Aerospace Industrial Park, Xiaomi has also planned a production base spanning approximately 2,000 mu (roughly 330 acres).

This 'north-south dual-base' layout enables Xiaomi Auto to simultaneously serve the North China and Central China markets.

Under the coordinated development strategy of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Beijing's new energy vehicle industry is undergoing a transformation. Lei Jun expresses this in a succinct yet profound manner: "I believe that industrial development is crucial for the coordinated development of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei." This recognition is being translated into tangible industrial layouts.

Through its deep collaboration with CATL, Xiaomi Auto is promoting the formation of a more comprehensive new energy vehicle industrial ecosystem in Beijing. This ecosystem encompasses not just a clustering of enterprises but a full-chain integration involving technology research and development, component supply, and vehicle manufacturing.

Conclusion

Local Support Soars, Completing the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Auto Chain Puzzle

Lei Jun's statement, "I hope to use my efforts to make Beijing better," embodies the shared aspiration of Beijing-based enterprises.

CATL's arrival fills a crucial gap in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei auto industry chain, elevating Xiaomi Auto's local support rate from 30%-40% to 60%-70%.

On the industrial map of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, a new energy vehicle industry corridor centered on Beijing is taking shape.

The adjacent layouts of Xiaomi Auto and CATL, separated by mere walls, not only缩短 the physical distance but also streamline the innovation chain.