Xiaomi is a jack of all trades: a heavyweight in the smartphone business, from refrigerators to vacuum robots, Xiaomi has practically everything in electronics that customers can imagine. As if that weren’t enough, Xiaomi has big plans for electric cars. The latest statements from the company boss are nothing less than a genuine declaration of war on VW and Tesla.
Xiaomi boss: We have to be among the top 5 in the world for electric cars
Xiaomi’s plans for its own electric car have been known for some time. In the meantime, however, the pure test phase is apparently a long way off. A prototype for the first electric model from the Chinese manufacturer, known primarily for its smartphones, is said to have already been completed. The starting gun could be fired as early as 2024, after Xiaomi officially announced in 2021 that it wants to try the electric car market.
From the first market analyzes and the investments, people have obviously come a long way, at least as far as self-confidence is concerned. The company founder and CEO of Xiaomi, Lei Jun, now makes this abundantly clear:
“I am convinced that the top 5 brands in the world will cover 80 percent of the market once the electric car industry comes of age. In other words, for us the only way to succeed is to be in the top 5 and deliver over 10 million cars a year”explains Lei Jun via Twitter.
The latest overview of the international market for electric cars reveals who this announcement is aimed at. The number one in the world is Tesla, followed by Volkswagen in second place. The first Chinese brand comes in third with BYD. It is followed by General Motors, and the top 5 is completed by the Stellantis group:
Xiaomi prepares for “brutal competition”.
So the Xiaomi boss is not exactly stacking small with this announcement. On the way up, VW and leader Tesla must be the goal for the Chinese manufacturer. But first, on the way up, others in the top 5 would have to make way. Lei Jun is certain: “The competition will be brutal.”
Xiaomi mill also scores with software for e-cars:
After all, the other manufacturers also want to grow. With BYD, a relative newcomer from China is already at the forefront. The other places are not occupied by strangers either. Xiaomi has set itself a tough task that needs to be drilled over the next few years.