Xiaomi Employee’s Suspected Overwork Death Amid SU7 EV Store Preparations

• Overwork led to tragedy: Wang Peizhi handled 267 store renovations in eight months, working late nights and weekends without adequate support.

• Staff reductions during the pandemic left teams understaffed, forcing individuals to manage multiple high-stakes projects like flagship showrooms.

• China’s ‘996’ work culture persists, with reports from Bloomberg News indicating similar demands across major tech firms, contributing to health risks including sudden cardiac events.

Discover the hidden toll of Xiaomi’s EV push: a dedicated employee’s death from overwork reveals intense retail transformations. Learn about the SU7 launch pressures and industry-wide challenges—explore now for insights into tech’s human cost.

What caused the death of a Xiaomi employee during the SU7 EV preparations?

Xiaomi employee death from overwork occurred when Wang Peizhi, a 34-year-old retail transformation specialist, suffered an acute myocardial infarction after months of grueling workloads. He collapsed in a grocery store while with his son, having managed extensive store renovations for the SU7 sedan’s debut. Despite no prior health issues and an active lifestyle, the relentless demands—stretching from early mornings to 2:30 a.m. messages—proved fatal, as confirmed by his death certificate.

How did Xiaomi’s retail overhaul contribute to extreme workloads?

Xiaomi’s entry into electric vehicles required a massive retrofit of its smartphone-focused retail network into auto showrooms, a process that intensified after pandemic-era staff cuts halved the responsible teams to about 10 people. Wang Peizhi shouldered at least 267 renovations in the first eight months of 2024, including high-profile sites like the Tiananmen Square store. He oversaw layouts, supplier coordination, and issue resolution, often single-handedly, amid tight timelines from upper management. Bloomberg News, drawing from internal documents and WeChat messages, reported that such pressures stemmed from co-founder Lei Jun’s vision to make Xiaomi a major car manufacturer, dubbed his “last entrepreneurial project.” Wang’s widow, Luna Liu, noted his annual salary of 600,000 yuan ($84,000), including stock options, but emphasized the constant stress that left him feeling like he was juggling “seven or eight roles.” This mirrors broader trends in China’s tech industry, where the “996” schedule—9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week—remains common, as per Bloomberg’s interviews with workers.

The SU7 launch in March 2024 amplified these demands, with Xiaomi pricing the sedan at 215,900 yuan to compete against the BYD Han L and Tesla Model 3, while echoing the Porsche Taycan’s design at a lower cost. Post-launch, Xiaomi’s Hong Kong stock rallied 200%, targeting 350,000 deliveries for 2025. However, this pales against BYD’s 4.3 million EV and hybrid sales or Tesla’s 1.8 million global vehicles in the prior year, illustrating Xiaomi’s ambitious but uphill battle in the EV market.

Two months before the debut, Wang’s messages reflected nonstop activity: coordinating mirror installations, urging faster supplier work, and sharing hundreds of photos on lighting, flooring, and charging setups for the Beijing flagship. When company president Lu Weibing announced a visit, Wang texted, “Tomorrow decides everything.” His widow described him coming home physically but mentally absent, likening his state to a “spinning top.”

By August 2024, Wang traveled across Harbin, Changchun, Shenyang, and Tianjin with only two colleagues for support. Hospitalized for weakness on August 22, he still fielded work queries. A Shenyang manager replied to his illness report with, “Xiaomi’s employees are all warriors,” accompanied by a crying emoji. Hours later, shopping with his son, Wang collapsed; he entered intensive care and died three days later. Local authorities deemed it non-work-related, as it fell outside the 48-hour window for injury claims. Xiaomi offered 50,000 yuan in hardship aid—unpaid, per Liu—and rescinded some stock options. One of Wang’s final contractor messages read: “What I signed up for was a life or death commitment. Don’t leave me hanging.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ‘996’ work culture in China’s tech industry?

The ‘996’ schedule refers to working from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week, a practice prevalent in firms like Xiaomi and Alibaba. It has drawn criticism for health impacts, including fatigue and cardiac risks, with Bloomberg News reporting its persistence despite regulatory scrutiny and worker complaints.

How has Xiaomi’s EV strategy affected its workforce?

Xiaomi’s pivot to EVs, led by co-founder Lei Jun, has demanded rapid retail adaptations, leading to overburdened staff as seen in Wang Peizhi’s case. Interviews shared with Bloomberg reveal similar exhaustion across teams, balancing innovation goals with limited resources in a competitive market against BYD and Tesla.

Key Takeaways

• Human cost of ambition: Xiaomi’s SU7 preparations exposed workers to unsustainable loads, resulting in a tragic loss that spotlights retail transformation challenges.
• Industry-wide issue: The ‘996’ culture and staff cuts amplify risks, with Bloomberg documenting comparable pressures in China’s tech-EV crossover.
• Call for balance: Companies should prioritize employee well-being through better staffing and hours to sustain long-term growth without such sacrifices.

Conclusion

The Xiaomi employee death from overwork during SU7 EV launch preparations reveals the grueling realities behind China’s tech giants’ expansions into electric vehicles. As firms like Xiaomi chase market share against BYD and Tesla, the emphasis on speed and efficiency often overshadows worker health, perpetuating a ‘996’ environment fraught with risks. Moving forward, integrating sustainable practices could honor dedicated employees like Wang Peizhi while driving innovation—urging industry leaders to reassess priorities for a healthier workforce.