Xiaomi has confirmed that the company will soon unveil its EV or electric vehicle technology. The Beijing-based company is currently known as one of the world’s leading smartphone manufacturers. The company said in 2021 that it would enter the electric vehicle market, with the launch of its first such vehicle expected in 2024. Earlier this year, an electric vehicle from the company, codenamed ‘Modena’, was seen testing in cold, snowy terrains. However, the upcoming launch event will not see a product unveiling.
Xiaomi has announced in a after on X that Xiaomi’s EV technology will be unveiled at the Stride launch event to be held on December 28 at 2:00 PM Beijing time (11:30 AM IST). Lei Jun, founder and CEO of Xiaomi, claimed that Xiaomi EV aims to integrate “automotive, consumer electronics and smart ecosystems” and therefore redefine the technology of the automotive industry. He also clarified that the December event will only showcase EV technologies and will not introduce any products.
The company has reportedly received approval from China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the body that regulates investment and production capacity in the country’s auto industry, to manufacture electric vehicles (EVs). Xiaomi has pledged to invest $10 billion (roughly Rs. 82,700 crores) in this sector over a period of 10 years. The company plans to mass-produce its first set of cars in the first half of 2024.
In January this year, Xiaomi’s EV model, codenamed ‘Modena’, was spotted testing in China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region, reportedly testing the vehicle’s battery performance in extremely cold conditions. The company had previously confirmed that it had hired over 500 experts from around the world to develop the in-house autonomous driving technology.
The images seen during the test of the Xiaomi Modena show the EV as a sedan with an aerodynamic shape, with a long hood and a sloping roofline that gently slopes towards the rear of the car. Retractable door handles and LiDAR sensors on the roof of the vehicle were also visible.
