It is no secret that Xiaomi has been working on developing a car for some time now. However, the latest revelation that the company’s founder, Lei Jun, was personally involved in testing the vehicle, has sparked renewed interest in the tech giant’s automotive ventures. The leaked images suggests that Xiaomi is testing the Mi Car under stressful conditions, or more precisely a “Snow Test.”
Can Xiaomi Mi Car pass the “Snow Test”?
The photos shared by a car blogger show the Xiaomi car undergoing extreme cold testing and calibration. The car, which appears to be a coupe with a slip-back design, also features lidar on the roof, suggesting that it has a high level of driver assistance capabilities.
According to previous reports, Xiaomi’s first car is a medium-sized fastback sedan, known internally as the Modena. The company is said to be considering two versions of the car, with prices ranging from 260,000-350,000 yuan. The release date for the new car is expected to be within the year, with sales starting in 2024.
In addition to the Modena, Xiaomi is also said to be developing a second mass-produced car, known as the Lemans, which is planned to be launched in 2025.
While the details of Xiaomi’s car are still scarce, it is clear that the company is taking its automotive ventures seriously. With Lei Jun personally involved in testing the vehicle, it is likely that Xiaomi is aiming to make a big impact in the automotive industry. One more notable advantage Xiaomi has their experience on the software side. We have already seen Xiaomi dominating the Chinese market, and if the company can integrate their MIUI to the car, it will be making a huge ecosystem. Whether or not the company will be successful remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure, it’s going to be an interesting ride.
