According to a report by local media, Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi is reportedly in the process of developing two electric vehicles (EVs). The first EV, known as the Modena, is rumored to be a larger and more powerful version of Tesla’s Model 3 sedan, and is expected to be priced similarly to XPeng’s P7.
There are reportedly two versions of the Modena being considered, with one starting at a price range of RMB 260,000 to RMB 300,000 ($38,000 to $43,600) and the other starting at RMB 350,000 ($51,600).
The more affordable version of Xiaomi’s electric vehicle is expected to be equipped with a 400V BYD lithium iron phosphate battery pack and be available to the general public. It will also feature various sensors developed in partnership with Continental, including cameras and five mmWave radars similar to those used by the 2021 Li Auto Li ONE.
This model will be powered by a standard battery pack. In contrast, the higher-priced variant will be built on a high-voltage 800V architecture and will utilize CATL Qilin Battery, which can be charged from 0 to 80% in just 15 minutes. It will be equipped with an Orin X processor from Nvidia as well as LiDAR technology and algorithms developed by Xiaomi.
Both versions of Xiaomi’s electric vehicle will have a smart cockpit powered by Qualcomm 8295 processors, which will also be used for the first time in the Jidu ROBO-01 later this year. The company’s second production vehicle, known as the “Le mans,” is scheduled to debut in 2025 and will feature three motors with in-house control software. It will be built on the same platform as the first model.
In March 2021, Xiaomi announced that it would be entering the automotive industry with an initial investment of RMB 10 billion ($1.5 billion) and a projected additional investment of $10 billion over the next decade.
In November 2021, Xiaomi signed a contract with the Beijing Economic and Technological Development Area Management Committee to construct a 300,000-unit-per-year facility in Yizhuang, along with a headquarters base for its automotive division and its sales and R&D headquarters. The plant will be built in two phases, with a capacity to produce 150,000 vehicles per year in each phase, and is expected to begin mass production in 2024.
