Xiaomi

Revenue of RMB365.9 billion in 2024—a 35% surge—caps Xiaomi's metamorphosis from smartphone disruptor to multi-domain adaptive radiator. The company that perfected r-selection strategy (launch phones every six months, spend near-zero on marketing, iterate through 'Mi Fan' feedback loops) now demonstrates niche construction at scale: building an interconnected ecosystem spanning smartphones (60% of revenue), electric vehicles (136,854 SU7 deliveries in debut year), and IoT devices that communicate like mycorrhizal networks beneath a forest floor.

The EV pivot reveals phenotypic plasticity: Xiaomi achieved operating profit in its automotive division just 18 months post-launch, joining the elite club of profitable EV makers (Tesla, BYD). This wasn't diversification—it was adaptive radiation using the same algorithm. Apply r-selection speed (target 350,000 vehicles in 2025), ecosystem integration (cars connect to phones, homes, wearables), and algorithmic learning (each device improves recommendations across the network). RMB30 billion R&D investment in 2025 targets not separate products but network effects: the SU7's value increases because it unlocks your Xiaomi phone; the phone matters more because it controls your car.

International expansion (42% of revenue from overseas markets) shows resource allocation favoring unstable, high-growth environments—classic r-selection. But the premium push (23.3% of Chinese shipments above RMB3,000) signals metabolic flexibility: Xiaomi can modulate between volume and margin, speed and quality, depending on niche conditions. The bamboo analogy fits: vast underground rhizome network (shared technology platform), rapid above-ground shoots (product launches), and the ability to thrive in disturbed environments (emerging markets) while gradually climbing upmarket. At 150,000+ employees, Xiaomi proves r-selection scales—if you build the mycorrhizal infrastructure first.