Xiaomi’s venture into the automotive sector, Xiaomi EV, is gearing up for a significant tech launch in two days, marking a pivotal moment since the Chinese smartphone giant declared its foray into car manufacturing early in 2021.
Lei Jun, founder, chairman, and CEO of Xiaomi, took to his personal social media account to elucidate the rationale behind the company’s entry into the car-making domain and shed light on the distinctions between Xiaomi’s electric vehicle (EV) models and those of Tesla.
Lei Jun reflected on the decisive moment of commitment, stating, “On March 30th, 2021, I announced that I was ready to ‘fight for Xiaomi EV.’ That was the moment I decided to put all past successes and failures behind me and dive into this challenging industry.”
Highlighting the global resonance of Xiaomi’s entry, Lei shared that the company attracted like-minded individuals from around the world, forming a dynamic EV team spanning locations such as Munich, Tokyo, Shenzhen, and Beijing.
Acknowledging the importance of hands-on experience, Lei Jun set a personal goal to drive 100 cars to understand their strengths. Surpassing this goal, he has already tested more than 150 cars.
While Xiaomi EV meticulously executed its plans with discretion, leaks and rumors emerged in the lead-up to the official launch, a circumstance unintended by the company. Lei Jun expressed the team’s readiness to engage with the public on December 28, emphasizing their commitment to sharing progress and results.
The upcoming event promises to kick off with the Xiaomi EV engineering team unveiling a series of technical breakthroughs, followed by Lei Jun discussing the underlying principles. Contrary to speculation, the event on December 28 will focus solely on technology, not product launches.
Lei Jun, in a Weibo announcement, asserted that Xiaomi EV aims to redefine the automotive industry’s technology stack, representing a significant leap forward in technological advancements within the sector. The company’s commitment to reshaping the landscape of automotive technology positions Xiaomi EV as a formidable player in the rapidly evolving industry.