Xiaomi puts smart manufacturing on public show

When visitors step into Chinese tech company Xiaomi's electric vehicle factory in Beijing E-Town, the giant robotic arms swinging with precision never fail to take their breath away.

Autonomous robots glide silently across the floor carrying parts. A 9,100-metric-ton die-casting machine shapes molten metal into automotive components in just 100 seconds. Over 600 robots work in concert across the 718,000-square-meter facility, where every 76 seconds, a new electric vehicle rolls off the production line.

Since beginning public tours in March 2024 — and fully opening to individual visitors in November 2024 — the factory has welcomed more than a quarter of a million people, making it a popular destination to experience firsthand how electric vehicles are manufactured.

The factory's openness aligns with a directive issued in late May by seven central government departments — including the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology — which encourages manufacturers in sectors such as automotive and robotics to open production lines to public viewing, offer hands-on experiences and develop educational study tours.

"We started by studying how to make it work," said Ma Lan, general manager of Xiaomi's Beijing E-Town campus, which encompasses the EV factory and research and development facilities. The challenge, she said, was to maintain production, ensure safety and keep the tour engaging.

"The factory produced 410,000 vehicles last year — all real production, not a set built for show," Ma said. "We needed to explore the integration of manufacturing and tourism while ensuring normal operations and product quality."

The solution involved scientifically designed tour routes, strategically scheduled visiting hours and strict safety protocols. Visitors enter production areas with full protective gear and remain in vehicles throughout the tour. Since opening, the factory has recorded zero safety incidents.

"We have visitors of all kinds," said Zhao Liangtao, director of the factory's comprehensive management department. "We tailor our explanations — technical depth for professionals, educational content for students, fun and engagement for families."

Since May, the factory has offered weekly English-language tours. Any visitor from any country can book through Xiaomi's mobile app using a passport. The factory also hosts a steady stream of international delegations — government officials, industry experts, business executives and university groups.

"Beyond the Great Wall and the Forbidden City, Xiaomi's EV factory gives international visitors a direct, in-depth look at China's smart manufacturing capabilities," Ma said.

The factory has made educational programming a strategic priority. In May this year, it launched the "Science Lecture Hall" project, signing agreements with 11 primary and secondary schools in the Beijing E-Town area.

The program offers a two-hour experience: a one-hour customized factory tour and an hour of interactive classroom learning. Two courses are currently available, focusing on exploring the relationship between car design and aerodynamic drag, and green development in the industry, with two more in development.

"Children's experience at the factory is completely different from learning from textbooks," Zhao said. "They can see with their own eyes how cars move along the production line and how robots automatically transport materials. These real front-line scenes stimulate imagination, leave a deeper impression and bring more inspiration."

The program is expected to offer more than 300 sessions this year, reaching over 10,000 students.

The factory's appeal extends beyond the assembly line. A go-kart track opened on site in March, featuring a 580-meter circuit that uses only electric karts. The track has attracted nearly 9,000 visitors since its debut.

The factory canteen opened in March 2025, and a cultural and creative products store opened in April 2025. Both have become hits among visitors.

"We want the factory to be more than a place where cars are made," Zhao said. "We want it to become a window showcasing China's manufacturing innovation, a key vehicle for spreading industrial culture and a new landmark for industrial tourism with international influence."

For Ma, the factory's deeper value lies in what it reveals about industrial culture. She described two core principles that define Xiaomi's approach.

"The first is engineering culture — a commitment to relentlessly pursuing perfection, to sparing no effort in mastering every detail, to solving technical challenges with focus and precision," she said.

"The second is entrepreneurial culture. The project has carried forward the spirit of hard work and determination," she added.

The Xiaomi EV factory has set its sights on becoming a national industrial tourism demonstration base and is pursuing 4A-level scenic spot certification. But its immediate goal for this year is to welcome 200,000 visitors.

"We hope that through industrial tourism and educational study tours, more members of the public will visit the factory, learn about manufacturing and experience the charm of China's automotive industry innovation," Ma said. The May directive, she added, gives the factory a clear direction as it pursues its goal.