Core Viewpoints - The recent public relations issues surrounding Xiaomi stem from its automotive business, reflecting a deeper internal and external redistribution of interests [1] - By the second half of 2025, Xiaomi's smartphone business gross margin will continue to face pressure, while the honeymoon period for its home appliance segment will also come to an end, leading to a focus on "defense" for these two major businesses [1] - Xiaomi should consider returning to its original approach of engaging with fans [1] Group 1: Historical Context and Business Strategy - Xiaomi initially thrived in the smartphone market during a time dominated by contract phones, known for its high cost-performance ratio and thin profit margins, typically around 3% [3] - To compete with industry giants, Xiaomi required substantial budgets for channel development and brand advertising, which was challenging given its low margins, prompting a pivot to fan economy and community marketing [4][5] - The fan economy strategy allowed Xiaomi to maintain operational sustainability despite low margins, as it fostered genuine connections with users [5] Group 2: Current Financial Dynamics - In Q1 2025, Xiaomi's smartphone average selling price (ASP) reached a historical high, but gross margins declined, indicating a passive increase in ASP driven by rising material costs [7][8] - The marginal effectiveness of market expenses is decreasing, leading Xiaomi to rely on pricing as the primary customer acquisition method, despite an increase in ASP [8] - The automotive business has become a significant growth area for market expenses, with Q1 2025 gross profit reaching 4.3 billion yuan and a gross margin of 23.2% [9] Group 3: Future Outlook and Challenges - Xiaomi's smartphone gross margin is expected to stabilize post-2024, primarily influenced by declining global storage prices [11] - The IoT and home appliance segments have surpassed the smartphone business in gross profit contribution, with a gross margin of 25.2% [13] - The home appliance sector faces challenges as government subsidies diminish, and price competition may intensify in the future [14] - With the success of the Xiaomi SU7, the management has raised the 2025 automotive sales target to 350,000 units, indicating a strategic shift in budget allocation towards the automotive sector [15]
小米250亿市场预算背后的权力迁徙