Xiaomi has opened a new automated smart home appliance factory capable of operating with minimal human involvement. The facility was mentioned at the Xiaomi 17 Ultra launch event on December 25, 2025. Located in Wuhan, it is the company's third major manufacturing hub after its smartphone and car factories. The majority of factory operations use lights-out manufacturing — running autonomously without needing lights on. A fleet of 161 robots handles material transport, covering over 90% of in-factory logistics. Six workshops are connected by a 4.2-kilometer overhead conveyor system. Production speed is impressive: one air conditioning unit rolls off the line every 6.5 seconds. Quality control uses AI-powered cameras instead of traditional manual inspection, scrutinizing circuit boards and components for precision defects. Construction also set a speed record: contracts were signed in August 2024, construction began in November, and the building was completed in January 2025. The new factory signals Xiaomi's ambition to expand its home appliance market share and advance toward higher-level intelligent manufacturing. Ref: Gizmochina