Xiaomi, the Chinese consumer electronics giant and the world’s fourth-largest smartphone manufacturer, unveiled its inaugural electric car model on Thursday, signaling its aspirations to emerge as a global automotive force despite formidable competition in its home market.
Based in Beijing, Xiaomi not only leads in smartphones but also offers tablets, smartwatches, headphones, and electric scooters. In 2021, the company announced its intent to venture into electric vehicles, joining a trend among several major Chinese tech firms entering this fiercely competitive sector.
During the unveiling event in Beijing, Xiaomi’s CEO, Lei Jun, introduced the SU7, a sedan scheduled for market entry in 2025. This model integrates Xiaomi software to facilitate functionality across the company’s diverse range of devices and will be manufactured by local company BAIC.
Lei expressed the ambition to establish Xiaomi as one of the world’s top five automotive manufacturers, a goal set for the next 15 to 20 years.
For the SU7, the batteries will be supplied by China’s largest electric automaker, BYD, along with the domestic battery giant CATL.
