Xiaomi is gearing up to showcase its electric vehicle (EV) technology at the upcoming Stride launch event on December 28 at 2 pm Beijing time (11:30 am IST). While Xiaomi has established itself as a global leader in smartphone manufacturing, the company has been making strides toward entering the electric vehicle market since announcing its intentions in 2021. The official debut of Xiaomi’s first electric vehicle is anticipated in 2024, and the company has already been conducting tests, with the ‘Modena’ electric vehicle spotted in cold, snowy terrains earlier this year.
The Stride event, however, won’t feature the launch of a specific product but will instead provide a glimpse into Xiaomi’s cutting-edge EV technology. Lei Jun, the founder and CEO of Xiaomi, emphasized the company’s vision to seamlessly integrate automotive, consumer electronics, and smart ecosystems, redefining the automotive industry’s technological landscape. It’s important to note that the December event will focus solely on showcasing Xiaomi’s EV technologies and won’t include product unveilings.
The company reportedly won the approval of China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the body which regulates investments and production capacity in the country’s auto industry, to manufacture electric vehicles (EVs). Xiaomi pledged to invest $10 billion (roughly Rs. 82,700 crores) in this sector spanned across a decade. It planned to mass-produce its first set of cars within the first half of 2024.
In January this year, the testing of an EV model by Xiaomi, codenamed ‘Modena’ in China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, was spotted, which was supposedly a test of the vehicle’s battery performance in extreme cold conditions. The company had confirmed previously that it hired over 500 experts from around the world to develop the in-house autonomous driving technology.
The glimpses of Xiaomi’s Modena during testing reveal an electric vehicle designed as a sleek sedan, characterized by an aerodynamic shape. The car boasts a lengthy hood and a gracefully descending roofline towards the rear. Notable features captured in the images include retractable door handles and LiDAR sensors strategically positioned on the vehicle’s roof, emphasizing Xiaomi’s commitment to integrating advanced technologies into its electric vehicle design.