Xiaomi founder Lei (2015)
Photo: REUTERS
The Chinese smartphone and electronics manufacturer Xiaomi is expanding its business in Germany and Europe.
"We will build our European headquarters in Düsseldorf," said Germany boss Alan Chen Li to the "Handelsblatt".
"We will be there with several hundred employees."
Xiaomi only started in Germany a year ago.
The company from Beijing's Silicon Valley, Zhongguancun, is the third most important smartphone brand in this country, behind Samsung and Apple.
According to market researcher Canalys, Xiaomi has a market share of ten percent.
In other EU countries such as Spain, Poland or Croatia, Xiaomi has been the best-selling smartphone brand for a long time.
Tech entrepreneur Lei was once considered a symbol of the Chinese mania for copying.
During his appearances, he imitated Apple founder Steve Jobs down to the smallest detail.
In the meantime his company has developed into an independent, world-famous brand.
Lei's company was recently caught in a technology dispute between the United States and China.
In mid-January, the US Department of Defense classified Xiaomi as a "communist-Chinese military company".
The Department urged US investors to sell shares in the company by November at the latest.
Xiaomi is legally defending itself against the move.
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