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By Moses Akaigwe
Chinese smartphone giant and world’s third largest manufacturer, Xiaomi, has joined tech firms in pushing into electric vehicle (EV) production.
Following months of speculations, Xiaomi Corp. has given the first glimpse of its debut electric vehicle, a five-seat sedan with a panoramic glass roof.
Bloomberg reports that a filing released by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on Wednesday, November 25, shows the long-anticipated EV will be branded Beijing Xiaomi SU7 and manufactured by state-owned, Beijing-based Beijing Automotive Group Co (BAIC).
BAIC is expected to build two versions of the new Xiaomi-branded model in the filing — the SU7 and the SU7 Max.
Both models had an “MI” logo in the front and carried the “Xiaomi” name on their rear, pictures published on the Ministry of Industry and Information’s (MIIT) website showed.
With the development in China, Xiaomi has beaten the US smartphone giant, Apple, in the race to create its own line of cars.
Unconfirmed reports have it that ‘Apple Car’ is likely to be delayed until 2026, according to Asia Financial.
The SU7 will be powered by auto giant BYD’s lithium-iron-phosphate batteries and a top speed of 210 kilometres per hour (kph). Meanwhile, the SU7 Max will have battery giant CATL’s nickel- and cobalt-based lithium batteries and speed of up to 265 kph.
The move could intensify competition in the world’s largest auto market, where overcapacity and slowing demand have fanned a bruising price war and hit supplier margins.
Xiaomi has indicated it still needs clearance from the MIIT, which assesses new automakers and models for technical and safety requirements.
