(Beijing) The Chinese manufacturer of electronic devices Xiaomi, which unveiled its very first electric car on Thursday, aims to become a world champion in the sector, announced its boss, at a time when Chinese manufacturers are competing in this niche.
Xiaomi, the world number four in smartphones, also produces touchscreen tablets, connected watches, headphones, scooters and even scooters.
Based in Beijing, the group announced in 2021 that it would launch into the highly coveted niche of electric vehicles, on which many Chinese brands have been boosting in recent months.
In a packed room in Beijing, Xiaomi boss Lei Jun presented his SU7, a sedan whose marketing is due to begin in 2025. Equipped by Xiaomi for the software and electronics, it is produced by the local manufacturer BAIC.
“The goal is to become one of the top five manufacturers in the world over 15-20 years of hard work,” Lei Jun explained.
The batteries for the SU7 are supplied by the Chinese BYD, also a key electric manufacturer, and its compatriot CATL. Their range can reach up to 800 km.
China is the world’s largest automobile market.
Like Xiaomi, dozens of innovative local brands have invested in the electric niche in recent years, in which foreign manufacturers are struggling to adapt.
In November, BYD was the undisputed electric champion in its country (more than 300,000 cars sold), far ahead of the American Tesla (more than 80,000), according to the Chinese Federation of Individual Car Manufacturers (CPCA). ).
Founded in 2010, Xiaomi has experienced rapid growth in recent years by offering high-end devices at affordable prices, and initially selling them directly online.
Almost unknown abroad in its early days, the brand was regularly mocked at the time for its products strongly inspired by the Apple iPhone.
Xiaomi was placed on a corporate blacklist by the United States in 2021 due to alleged links to the Chinese military.