Xiaomi Auto has a secret weapon: Titan Alloy 2.0, for vehicle platforms made from 100% recycled aluminum alloy
Xiaomi Auto has officially presented Titan Alloy 2.0, a proprietary alloy made entirely from recycled aluminum, intended for the structural applications of its electric vehicles. This is the first large-scale application in China of a fully regenerated alloy within the rear platforms—a component subjected to particularly high mechanical stress—manufactured using integrated gigacasting technology. The adoption of this material allows the company to eliminate the use of virgin metal in areas of the body dedicated to structural safety.
From an environmental perspective, the new alloy boasts a certified carbon footprint of 1.1 kg of CO₂ equivalent per kilogram of material, a figure that translates into a 93% reduction compared to production processes based on primary aluminum. This data has been verified by an independent body, the IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, and the alloy is now formally registered within the international EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) system, the standard that documents the environmental impact throughout the entire life cycle of a product.
The processing cycle of Titan Alloy 2.0 consists of six main phases. The raw material first undergoes a preliminary treatment divided into five steps, followed by the actual melting process and fine calibration of the chemical composition of the alloy. The resulting ingots are then directly fed into automated gigacasting lines, where the mechanical performance of the cast is controlled through internal X-ray diagnostics.
As a reminder, gigacasting refers to a production process in the automotive industry that creates large sections of the chassis (such as the entire underbody) in a single large piece of die-cast aluminum.
To validate the structural integrity of the die-cast components, an independent technical committee has also intervened, established under the aegis of the China Machinery Industry Federation. The launch of the new alloy fits into a broader phase of expansion of the Xiaomi range, which also includes the previously leaked project of a two-door electric sports car. According to the company, the material is capable of dynamically managing structural safety parameters under various vehicle usage conditions.
The use of low-carbon structural casts allows for an estimated reduction of about 800 kg of CO₂ for each vehicle produced. This aspect is not secondary: the European Union is progressively implementing its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which involves the application of tax burdens on imported vehicles based on their emissions profile throughout the entire life cycle. A structural reduction in emissions related to production could therefore directly impact the regulatory position of future variants intended for export, such as in the case of the Xiaomi YU7 GT electric SUV.
On the industrial front, Xiaomi's internal projections indicate an annual production capacity of about 550,000 vehicles for the next-generation platform. Achieving this volume would, according to the company's estimates, lead to a total reduction of CO₂ emissions of about 450,000 tons per year across the entire assembly network, a goal consistent with the plans for scaling production in the coming years.