Xiaomi electric car is coming

(Patria) - The Chinese mobile phone manufacturer is entering the automotive industry.

They are currently in the trial production phase of their first car, which began less than a month ago.

The factory in Beijing is currently producing around 50 prototypes per week.

With the approval of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), which is expected to be finalized by the end of the year at the latest, Xiaomi will begin mass production of its first car.

Xiaomi began hiring workers last month. The smartphone manufacturer is currently in the selection process, and the hiring process is dynamic and very strict. The HR department is working at full capacity to hire 100 new people for production, and some sources claim that some applicants who worked at Mercedes and Tesla do not meet Xiaomi's high criteria.

An extensive hiring process will begin at the end of this year or the beginning of next year, when mass production is expected. However, mass production involves a ramp-up phase.

Based on Sino-foreign joint ventures in China, such as those practiced by Volkswagen or Toyota, increasing production to 10,000 units per month requires a period of about four months, while achieving full capacity takes an entire year, according to experts, adding that the process depends on sales and the setup of the production line. Xiaomi is very ambitious; the planned production capacity of the factory in the first phase is 150,000 units per year, B92 reports.

Last month, media outlets published spy photos of Xiaomi's first model to be produced at the Beijing factory. It is a sedan prototype with the codename MS11.

The production version is expected to offer a long-range version with a 101 kWh battery, enabling a range of 800 km in a single-motor configuration. It will support modern 800V architecture for fast chargers up to 350 kW. The battery itself weighs 642 kg, and its energy density is 157 Wh/kg.

Xiaomi's goal is to enter the sedan market with a price range of up to 200,000 yuan ($27,400) to compete with rivals such as the Tesla Model 3, BYD Seal, Deepal SL03, and dozens of other Chinese EV sedans that are in high demand in the local market. The first cars will be sold in China, then in Europe, and finally in the US market.