This year's auto show was a fierce battleground. Major automakers swarmed to unveil new models, engage in spec wars, and slash prices, all aiming to attract current customers and drive immediate sales.

Xiaomi Auto, however, stood out from the crowd.

While other booths were bustling with adults inquiring about prices and features, Xiaomi's booth was quietly taken over by a group of young enthusiasts. These children, calm and focused, gathered around the SU7 and SU7 Ultra, scrutinizing the cars, discussing specifications, and taking notes with a level of expertise that even surpassed many adult car aficionados.

After this heartwarming scene went viral online, Lei Jun promptly reposted the on-site video and simply said: 'Thank you, young enthusiasts.'

This simple act of gratitude instantly sparked a lively discussion in the comments section. Many netizens pointed out that while other automakers are scrambling for orders this year or next, Lei Jun has already secured the loyalty of future car buyers, two decades down the line.

Indeed, it's clear that this viral sensation involving young fans is no accident. It underscores Xiaomi's core strength: the ability to truly listen and respect every user, regardless of age.

01 Two Viral Moments: Genuine Connections with Young Fans

Two heartwarming incidents involving young Xiaomi fans have captured widespread attention online. Neither was a staged marketing ploy; both were genuine displays of enthusiasm.

The first incident occurred in June 2025 when a 5-year-old boy went viral. While other kids were glued to cartoons or playing with toys, he had already memorized the full specifications of the Xiaomi SU7.

From power parameters to range and body details, he could recite them all with astonishing accuracy. Frankly, even many seasoned car owners might struggle to recall everything so thoroughly.

After the video went viral, Lei Jun reposted it immediately to show his support and publicly expressed his gratitude. What won everyone over was Xiaomi's sincerity in following up. They customized a 1:64 six-color pull-back alloy car model specifically for the child, transforming his pure enthusiasm into a tangible gift that he could cherish and share.

At the 2026 Beijing Auto Show, another 7-year-old boy became an online sensation.

Standing in front of the SU7 Ultra display car, he effortlessly rattled off a string of technical specifications without any prompting or reference materials—1.98-second zero-to-100 km/h acceleration, 1,548 horsepower, carbon-ceramic brakes, and more—clearly familiar with all the model's highlights.

According to his parents, the child was a genuine long-time Xiaomi fan who had been following Xiaomi Auto with pure enthusiasm. When Lei Jun learned about this, he not only warmly acknowledged the boy but also gave him a special nickname—'Car-Savvy Young Enthusiast.'

This auto show also saw many primary school study groups making special trips to visit Xiaomi's booth. The children took notes seriously and experienced the cars up close. It's worth noting that while most brands see little commercial value in children, Xiaomi ensures that every ounce of enthusiasm from kids is acknowledged and taken seriously.

02 More Than Just Pampering Kids: 'Listening' Is Part of Xiaomi's DNA

Many only see Lei Jun's affection for young fans but fail to grasp the bigger picture: Being kind to children is just one aspect of Xiaomi's 'listening culture.'

Throughout its journey in car-making, Xiaomi has distinguished itself by its humility and willingness to listen to ordinary voices. Whether it's seasoned car owners, casual netizens, or even children, as long as the feedback is genuine and the suggestions are useful, the official team will take action.

Lei Jun himself places great importance on authentic user feedback. Previously, he dedicated an hour and a half to reading through over 1,400 ordinary comments under a short video, specifically seeking genuine user complaints about the cars rather than relying solely on professional research reports or internal data detached from real user experiences.

After the initial SU7 deliveries, many owners provided feedback on various issues: seats were too firm, rear-seat comfort was just average, risk-avoidance fine print in presentation PPTs, safety concerns about door handles, and so on.

With many automakers, such feedback would likely receive template responses, perfunctory dismissals, and eventually be ignored. But Xiaomi was different—nearly all genuine user issues were addressed with actual improvements.

In terms of promotion, Lei Jun openly admitted mistakes, stating, 'Fine print is an industry bad habit—we'll definitely change that.' Afterward, all Xiaomi presentations and promotional materials completely removed vague fine print and gimmicky phrasing, opting for plain language to explain specs and parameters—honest and straightforward. Even verbal slip-ups pointed out by netizens during presentations would be corrected officially the next day without shifting blame or making excuses.

Product hardware upgrades were equally full of sincerity. The door handles were upgraded with triple mechanical redundancy to completely eliminate the risk of being unable to open doors during power failures; rear seat cushions were thickened, backrest angles adjusted, and sleep headrests added; the entire car was upgraded with double-layer soundproof glass; laser radar, previously only available on top-tier models, was directly included in the base version, allowing ordinary users to enjoy the same intelligent driving experience.

Of course, Xiaomi's 'listening' isn't blind obedience. The internal team once proposed adding sleep headrests to the front seats, but Lei Jun vetoed it immediately for a simple reason: it would compromise the car's sporty feel and driving visibility, and you can't sacrifice the product's core positioning just to cater to a single demand.

In essence, Xiaomi's approach to listening is: fully address reasonable demands, firmly reject invalid or poorly thought-out suggestions. This level of clarity and sincerity is truly rare in the automaker circle.

Because of this trait, children feel drawn to Xiaomi, and adults feel they can trust Xiaomi. Everyone can clearly sense that this is a brand willing to listen, willing to change, and not arrogant.

03 Seemingly Fan-Spoiling Excitement, Actually Top-Tier Long-Term Strategy

Netizens joke that Lei Jun has 'already locked in car buyers for 20 years from now.' What may seem like a joke is actually the most insightful business foresight.

Cars are inherently long-cycle consumer products, and brand loyalty is never built solely at the moment an adult buys a car. When adults choose a car, they weigh budgets, compare competitors, consider resale value—all rational calculations. But a child's enthusiasm is pure, without any ulterior motives. Once it takes root in their hearts, it can last for many, many years.

The 'young enthusiasts' currently gathered around the booth, examining cars, collecting Xiaomi car models, and memorizing model specs, will become the absolute main force of domestic car consumption in a decade or so.

Their most vivid childhood car memories will no longer be just overseas luxury brands or traditional established names—but also Xiaomi's hardcore tech, stunning aesthetics, and the brand's willingness to genuinely listen to ordinary people and treat every ounce of enthusiasm with sincerity.

Some may argue that the market will change too much in 20 years for early enthusiasm to guarantee future purchases.

But brand competition has never been about short-term sales alone. While other automakers focus solely on pleasing adults with purchasing power now, dismissing casual netizens' complaints and children's enthusiasm as 'ineffective traffic,' Xiaomi is quietly improving its products and serving existing owners while also sowing seeds of confidence in domestic brands among the next generation.

That simple 'thank you, young enthusiasts' is far from just cute fan-spoiling—it reflects Xiaomi's consistent user logic: Whether you have purchasing power or not, whether you're young or old, your enthusiasm deserves respect, and your voice deserves to be heard.

In the short term, this creates heartwarming viral moments that resonate across the internet; in the long term, it's about occupying the brand perception of an entire generation.

While others compete for temporary market heat, Xiaomi wins lasting hearts.

Disclaimer: This article is solely a Smart Finance commentary and does not constitute any investment advice. All corporate data and regulatory events mentioned are from publicly available information and are for reference only; specifics should be based on official releases. Images sourced from the internet; if copyright issues exist, please contact for removal.