- Olga Kokorina
- Translated by Olga Apetenok
- Ru Fr Ar He
Xiaomi. From smartphones to vehicles
Xiaomi Corporation is a Chinese corporation founded by Lei Jun in 2010. The name consists of two parts: ‘Xiao’, which translates as ‘rice grain’, and MI, meaning ‘mobile Internet’. In 2021, the company became the leader in the Chinese market in terms of smartphone production. In addition, the IT giant produces electronics and gadgets, household appliances, tablets, smart watches, software, electric scooters and electric bicycles. And now, it is time for electric vehicles. The long journey from smartphones to vehicles has been possible thanks to the company’s highly successful growth and commitment to success.
From smartphones to electric vehicles
The company started its activity in 2010 with the development of MIUI Android firmware. In 2011, it introduced its first smartphone, which compared favorably with its competitors with pre-installed MIUI, excellent technical characteristics and, most importantly, a low price. A year later, the company presented the second smartphone, followed by the third a year later, and at the same time the first TV. In 2014, the company ranked 3rd in terms of smartphone sales in the Chinese market with a share of 11%, while Apple had 10%. Well, in July 2022, Xiaomi openly announced cooperation with the automotive giant BYD. The BYD Han served as the basis for the development of the prototype of the first Xiaomi electric car, the Xiaomi Modena.
In 2022, BYD cars entered the top 3 most popular electric vehicles in the Israeli market. We regret to state that BYD model will become more expensive in 2023. The price update is related to the new tax calculation formula.
In the future, Xiaomi plans to produce more than 10 million electric vehicles annually. To get closer to such grandiose plans, the company is already developing its second electric car, codenamed Le Mans. This model is expected in 2025 and it will have as many as three electric motors.
Xiaomi Modena
The company plans on releasing its first car in 2024. Its price will be about 38,000-44,000 dollars. The manufacturer will begin accepting pre-orders in 2023. The Modena is a large sedan with an aerodynamic body, a sloping roofline and a long hood. It is planned to release the model in three versions, the first two will receive Blade iron-phosphate batteries from BYD, which support 400 V charging. The third will get a battery from CATL, which will work within an 800-volt electrical architecture that allows you to charge from the battery 0 to 80% in just 15 minutes. It is known that in January 2023, two prototypes were already being tested in northern China, in the Inner Mongolia region, where the climate is really cold. Lei Jun, CEO of the company, took part in the tests.
