[hrman]

That is good news. The competition is getting heated up. The entry barriers into the automobile manufacturing are now more technological than infrastructural. Tesla prides itself on being an technology company more than an automobile one.
Cant resist this joke but with Xiaomi, get used to:
1. Chinese servers tracking your car and everything it does all the time
2. Bloatware in your car.
3. Proudly declaring they are Made in India (95% parts will be sourced from China)
4. Random Lagging during intense drives.
5. Govt suddenly banning your car in the name of National Security
6. Scores of developers creating customised ROMs for your car which will offer higher speed, better battery life and less lag provided you have rooted your car.

[Turbohead]

Pretty sure they'll build a smartphone with wheels and seats.

All said and done, I expect their first gen cars to have pathetic ride and handling. This is one area where experience really matters unless they bring in an experienced team involved in the whole process of designing and building a car. Ask Hyundai.

[V.Narayan]

I have no knowledge of Xiaomi but one thing is clear that :-

(a) the EV boom to come will bring in a few key new players into the fray and will see the exit of a few of the existing players manufacturing ICE cars who simply will not be able to move fast enough. I suspect some American brands and maybe, maybe French brands to be on that list.

(b) China will become a dominant player in the automobile market as we transition more and more to EVs. They are already the largest manufacturers and market for EVs in both personal cars and commercial vehicles.

The last time such a fundamental and sudden change in propulsion in a transport sector happened in the 1940s and 1950s when piston engines married to propellers gave way to jet engines. There were several top dog manufacturers of piston engines in the 1920s-1945 time frame that could not make the transition to jets and simply folded up or got bought out and faded into history or specialized in small piston aero engines and survived in a niche segment - Bristol Aero Engines, Armstrong Siddley, Fiat (yes Fiat too made aero engines), Continental, Gnome Rhone etc. Expect some names, of car makers, well known and loved today, that might fold up by 2035 or earlier. And expect some new names to pop out of no where.

[balmeter]

Not sure what the international plans would be for Xiaomi with its EV venture but if they do consider India which is one of its largest mobile markets, wonder if they can manage to get the necessary approvals from the government. Xiaomi already has a plant for its mobile venture and maybe they'd have a slightly easy pass as compared to Great Wall Motors?

While some love Xiaomi phones, several people largely hate its UI but Xiaomi along with BBK Electronics family (Oppo, Vivo) were one of the reasons for the increased smartphone penetration in India. If they follow the similar pricing strategy, EV space would surely get more traction here.

[RavSam]

Originally Posted by balmeter

While some love Xiaomi phones, several people largely hate its UI ... EV space would surely get more traction here.

Yes their UI is bothersome but their phones last! Their cheap offerings are common with the people who do a lot of physical work and the phone takes a beating but shines in its durability.

The higher end ones with their glass backs are weak though.

Hope the same way of working is brought to the cars. Inexpensive but durable.

Also wondering if they will sell their car bookings via flash sales they are notorious for that and also not being clear about privacy issues. Don't make another internet inside thingy with giving away our location coordinates to you know where.

[Venkatesh]

Xiaomi has announced that it has completed the official business registration of its electric vehicle unit, to be called Xiaomi EV Inc.

Xiaomi opened the new unit with a capital expenditure of around 10 billion yuan ($1.55 billion) and the company's CEO Lei Jun will become the legal representative of the entity.

Some 300 staff have so far been employed to join the EV unit and it continues to recruit talent, it said.

The company also informed that it has conducted more than 2,000 interview surveys and visited over 10 industry peers and partners to push forward with its electric vehicle ambition.

Source

[Venkatesh]

Xiaomi Corp Chief Executive Lei Jun said the Chinese smartphone maker will mass produce its own cars in the first half of 2024.

The company has ramped up hiring for the unit, though it has yet to reveal if it will produce the car independently or via partnership with an existing carmaker.

Source

[anb]

Originally Posted by hrman

1. Chinese servers tracking your car and everything it does all the time

Isn't the same PayTM fast tag already doing? Alibaba group is the largest share holder of the PayTM.

[shortbread]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

(b) China will become a dominant player in the automobile market as we transition more and more to EVs. They are already the largest manufacturers and market for EVs in both personal cars and commercial vehicles.

Yes and it's primarily because almost every other country and automaker is letting it happen. The automakers especially are to blame for being steadfastly stubborn and want to continue with the IC engine business model.

The US of A have finally realised this and have given the big 3 a kick up their backsides. Also the success for Tesla that was initially scoffed upon as a temporary phenomenon is finally been accepted as reality by the American auto majors.

I think the Indian government will delay the all out EV push till they divest at least two of the Govt. owned petroleum companies. There is no point in trying to sell very expensive assets when you have already announced a ban on core business.

[Venkatesh]

Xiaomi to open car plant in Beijing with annual output of 300,000 vehicles - Beijing govt

The plant will be constructed in two phases and Xiaomi will also built its auto unit's headquarters, sales and research offices in the Beijing Economic and Technological Development Zone

Beijing E-Town said it anticipated the plant reaching mass production in 2024

Source