How should we view the Xiaomi Car Technology Launch Event scheduled for December 28th? What are the most noteworthy and anticipated pieces of information?

The Xiaomi Auto Technology Conference to be held on December 28, 2023, marks the first official event since Lei Jun announced his commitment to “fight for Xiaomi Automobile” on the evening of March 30, 2021.

On that eventful night, I was fortunate to witness the entire speech. Lei Jun shared the mental journey of whether to venture into automobile manufacturing, discussing the internal conflicts and struggles he faced.

As a serial entrepreneur, faced with the decision of “doing it and potentially failing, or not doing it and living with regret,” Lei Jun courageously chose the former.

This was, in fact, an inevitable decision. When faced with the option to act or not, entrepreneurs are driven to choose action. And the philosophy is “if you are going to do it, do it well and with full commitment.” Lei Jun decided to bet everything, embarking on what he considers the final entrepreneurial venture of his life—Xiaomi Automobile!

The vision and mission of Xiaomi Automobile are to provide high-quality intelligent electric vehicles that enable global users to enjoy an omnipresent smart lifestyle.

Xiaomi’s positioning as a “technology giant in the ecological car-making” was actually established well before it announced entering the automobile industry. One of the reasons Xiaomi decided to make cars is related to the vehicle being an integral part of intelligent life. Xiaomi’s mission is to create intelligent living for users

While the official statement emphasizes the release of technology rather than products, due to the exposure of the design, many people still anticipate this technology launch as a product launch.

From the leaked information currently available, Xiaomi’s product being released this time is a C-class sedan with a sporty style.

From the perspective of the automotive market, such products often do not achieve high sales volumes.

Many interpret this as a strategic mistake on Xiaomi’s part, but I disagree.

A product like this is very useful for proving its capabilities in car manufacturing.

Xiaomi does not want to start in the automotive field with a low-end product and gradually climb up the ladder. Therefore, launching a flagship sedan will provide a solid anchor for the entire brand.

It will facilitate the success of the next mass-market model that incorporates some of the technology from this sedan, such as the most popular Chinese family SUV, which will gain widespread attention.

Moreover, a relatively low-volume model like this will also allow Xiaomi to thoroughly evaluate and iterate its production, test drive, delivery, and after-sales systems.

There will be many challenges in this journey, which are inevitable for newcomers in the automotive industry.

In light of this product positioning, I believe it is not a strategic mistake, but rather, Xiaomi is demonstrating a level of strategic patience in the automotive field that it did not exhibit in the smartphone market.

As for whether Xiaomi’s car venture will succeed, I believe it has the potential to do so.

The success of late entrants depends on both their operational capabilities and the existence of gaps in the competitive landscape.

The current reality is that Xiaomi has already proven itself in multiple niche consumer markets and has accumulated enough resources and investments to achieve its goals.

There are not many competitors with the same combination of intelligent and ecological capabilities as Xiaomi.

The capabilities that pioneers had an edge in, have been diluted due to the rapid technological advancements, such as in autonomous driving, where much of the effort by various autonomous driving teams based on rule-based and search pruning algorithms has been almost wasted. Similar situations are occurring in hardware devices like batteries.

This means that Xiaomi’s advantages are not very distinct, and the advantages possessed by others are difficult to replicate.

Therefore, at this stage, if Xiaomi can execute its car manufacturing logic effectively, there will be no competitors in the market.

After Xiaomi’s official announcement of entering the automotive industry, Xiaomi has officially announced the “Xiaomi Car” technology launch event scheduled for December 28, 2024. A thousand days ago, it was at Xiaomi Technology Park when Lei Jun uttered the famous words “fight for Xiaomi Car.”

Speaking of this, I once jokingly said on Weibo that Xiaomi still has an overly technical mindset, choosing a good day for an event that turned out to be a technology launch instead of a product launch. Of course, this is just a joke, but it reflects Xiaomi’s core corporate values of prioritizing technological innovation, which remains unaffected by temporary external disturbances or public opinion. Xiaomi continues to be a long-term oriented company capable of achieving stability and long-term success, as evidenced by its slogan, “Technology Giant, Ecological Car Maker.”

Xiaomi Car: The Final Puzzle Piece of Xiaomi’s MIUI

For Xiaomi, what does Xiaomi Car really signify? I believe Xiaomi hinted at this during the MIUI launch event: Xiaomi’s MIUI is an ecosystem for people, cars, and homes. This establishes Xiaomi Car’s crucial role within Xiaomi’s overall strategic direction—a vital endpoint on the MIUI ecosystem. Consequently, it’s challenging to associate Xiaomi Car solely with traditional vehicles or mobile terminals. It is, in essence, a crucial and independent component of the intelligent mobile ecosystem, an integral part of everyday life, seamlessly interconnected from the inside out.

Imagine a scenario in the future where the intelligent ecosystem is highly developed, and deep learning automation is advanced enough. Upon waking up in the morning, sensors sense your presence, inform the local terminal, and initiate your morning routine. As you spend time in bed, it preheats the water heater to your preferred temperature for immediate washing. Your favorite breakfast is prepared according to your long-term preferences. Meanwhile, your car has already activated air purification, aromatization, and air conditioning settings. After you leave, the home system automatically shuts down the corresponding appliances and begins its daily cleaning routine. The car adapts to your driving habits, choosing the optimal route to assist or even fully automate your drive to your destination. This entire process does not require explicit commands or instructions; each ecosystem product fulfills its duties. In such a comprehensive scenario, the car is essentially a mobile terminal, a means to seamlessly connect your desired destination—a result of Xiaomi’s strengths.

Solidarity in Supply Chain: Price and Integration Advantage through Collaboration

Another significant advantage for Xiaomi in car manufacturing lies in its ability to coordinate and integrate the supply chain and industrial layout. Unlike the digital realm, the automotive industry heavily relies on integrated supply chain management. National origin is less critical in this industry, as it doesn’t hold the same importance as cost control capabilities. Xiaomi excels in supply chain control and integration. Many are likely aware of Redmi’s “New Decade, 2 Trillion New Vision Plan” announcement in collaboration with domestic supply chain partners. This collaboration is not limited to mobile terminals; companies like BOE and AAC Acoustic Technology may continue collaborating with Xiaomi on its cars, further empowering Xiaomi Car. This is a result of Xiaomi’s long-term strategic guidance. For Xiaomi, investments in these companies are not just about immediate returns but about anticipating industry and company development. Lei Jun, a well-known angel investor in China, has played a role in the progress of both Xiaomi and Sunwoda. Xiaomi shines in the light, Sunwoda in the shadows, both striving for the advancement of the domestic supply chain industry.

Seamless Sensing and Interaction Experience: Xiaomi Car’s Potential Key Selling Point

Understanding these aspects sheds light on Xiaomi’s forward-looking strategies. Since Lei Jun’s public announcement of Xiaomi’s car venture a thousand days ago, it indicates that preparations have been made in various aspects. During the MIUI beta testing phase, 100 Dream Partners witnessed not only a deeply customized UI but also Xiaomi’s smartphone’s disruptive impact on the industry. So how will Xiaomi Car disrupt the automotive industry? The answer might lie in in-car technology and ecosystem interactions.

Xiaomi positions itself as an “intelligent mobile space.” This suggests that the car’s primary mission at this stage is intelligent sensing, mobile communication, and spatial experiences. A car is essentially a life scenario, much like a home. However, it requires substantial computational power for real-time decision-making in a mobile setting. Unlike the second phase of IoT, where products merely “exist,” in this phase, these ecosystem products need to “understand you” inside and out, making you a “seamless sensor,” enabling you to experience your habits effortlessly and reach your destination with minimal effort.

In other words, Xiaomi Car may allow users to achieve their desires and needs without complex instructions at multiple levels. This, I believe, is the potential core selling point that could differentiate Xiaomi Car from other products in the industry.

The Value of Interaction: Innovation in the Current Industry

Why do I believe that interaction is the most valuable innovation in the current industry? I’ve briefly mentioned this elsewhere. In my view, the pioneer of smartphone interaction logic was the iPhone, and the pioneer of industrializing new energy vehicles was Tesla. They both established fundamental norms and requirements for industry transformation almost from scratch, enabling them to rapidly become industry leaders. As Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla, stated, “Tesla’s biggest problem is not design but engineering for volume production.” Today, almost all new energy companies' factory standards and operating procedures are striving to emulate Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory. This is because it represents the epitome of post-modern industrial process efficiency.

As a latecomer, Xiaomi lacks first-mover advantages but can seize opportunities as it goes along. However, this is primarily limited to the engineering process. To excel in the automotive race, Xiaomi’s only choice is technology and ecology. This is why I emphasize the value of interaction.

Known Parameters and Information: Are There Any Surprises?

As for specifications, Xiaomi’s first car, the SU7, has become clearer with more information leaks. As Xiaomi’s inaugural car, it not only carries a product’s significance but also bears the responsibility of helping Xiaomi establish its processes. Therefore, we can see that Xiaomi has spared no effort in the configuration of the SU7.

Prior to this, we had some information indicating that Xiaomi SU7 is positioned as a high-end sedan with standard C-class dimensions and wheelbase. It is expected to set a new record for aerodynamic coefficients among production cars. The high-end version will feature front and rear dual motors and an 800V electrical architecture, with optional Brembo brakes.

Xiaomi recently revealed a structural X-ray image showing the battery, which may adopt a CTB or CTP design (especially the high-end version, which is likely to use CTB to further optimize space and increase battery capacity).

The front cross-arm and rear multi-link design is a common steering and suspension structure used in high-end cars. Whether it’s a MacPherson strut or a cross-arm multi-link, there is no absolute superiority or inferiority. Porsche’s 911, for example, uses a modified MacPherson strut as its front suspension, which is also a timeless classic for sports cars. However, the front cross-arm and rear multi-link structure can provide greater stability and load-bearing in situations where space is prioritized, offering more redundancy for vehicle structure. The high-end version should feature air suspension, which has long been a symbol of high-end cars.

Another outstanding feature in the structure is that Xiaomi’s car body may be manufactured using a one-piece die

The key aspect of this press conference is the ‘Technology Launch Event.’ To be honest, I am quite pleased because Xiaomi has invested a lot of manpower and resources in research and development over the past two years. However, due to shortcomings in promotion and a slower pace, it has not only disrupted the rhythm but also left its own consumers puzzled when they wanted to delve deeper into understanding.

Take the recently launched Xiaomi Surging OS as an example. Many people, including myself, initially became aware of it only after its release. We gained a deeper understanding through discoveries shared by netizens on platforms like Bilibili, Weibo, and Zhihu after experimenting with it. Further insight came from ‘Chen Baoyi,’ a Bilibili smart home influencer, in a video posted on November 20. It was only on December 7 that the Xiaomi Surging OS team realized the problem and held a communication meeting, providing everyone with a systematic understanding of Xiaomi Surging OS through official channels.

In hindsight, it is clear that Xiaomi’s automotive division has learned from the lessons of Xiaomi Surging OS. If they were to compress the car launch and technical communication into a 2- to 3-hour event, it would inevitably be insufficient in time. In the automotive industry, a car’s launch is typically divided into a ‘first appearance event’ and a ‘pre-launch event.’ The former serves to announce the exterior design to the outside world, while the latter reveals the specifications, prices, and begins accepting reservations.

For Xiaomi’s current automotive venture, the exterior design was already revealed on the registration website a month ago. Instead of holding a ‘first appearance event,’ they decided to host a ‘Technology Launch Event.’ Through this event, Xiaomi can systematically and extensively present its car manufacturing philosophy, factory scale, car-grade Surging OS, interconnected experiences, and various self-developed software and hardware technologies to everyone interested in Xiaomi cars. The 3-hour duration ensures that Xiaomi’s car launch event is packed with substantial content.

The reason Xiaomi introduced Xiaomi Surging OS this year is twofold. Firstly, it aims to address the various long-standing issues and bugs on MIUI, which is based on Android, on Xiaomi phones. Secondly, it paves the way for Xiaomi’s ‘People, Car, Home Ecosystem’ and the upcoming official debut of ‘Xiaomi Car SU7’ on December 28.

A few days ago, economist Ren Zeping mentioned in his year-end speech

米车终于来了，第一次重点讲技术也是非常正确的决定。

Because now no one will hesitate about Xiaomi’s intelligence and ecology. Instead, for the car itself, Xiaomi needs to tell everyone that it has the capability. Xiaomi SU7 is a car with excellent mechanical qualities, and I estimate that this is also why it is positioned as a sports car.

In that case, let’s make some deductions based on the information available now.

How many patents does Xiaomi Automotive currently have

According to the data on Tianxia, Xiaomi Automotive has a total of 1,090 patents. Considering that Xiaomi announced its entry into the automotive industry only about 3 years ago, this patent application speed is quite impressive. I imagine the engineers have been working hard.

There are a total of 55 pages, which is too many to go through in detail, but I took a brief look. The main areas covered are: autonomous driving, vehicle manufacturing, and electric motor technology.

Autonomous driving, needless to say, is a major focus for Xiaomi. Their goal is to enter the top tier of autonomous driving by 2024, so this area is receiving a lot of attention. From the patent applications, I can see a lot of focus on live detection and image recognition.

Next is vehicle manufacturing, or the aspects related to the vehicle itself, and there are many patents in this category. I think the active intake grille, air suspension, and adjustable rear wing are particularly worth noting. Xiaomi SU7 is clearly designed for sports performance.

There are also many patents related to intelligence and technology. For example, the multi-camera image fusion method is likely related to how HyperOS currently uses various device cameras, and the actual experience should be very interesting.

There are really too many patents to cover in detail here. Interested friends can take a look. My expectations are already quite high. “Tech giant, eco-friendly car” is not just a slogan; Xiaomi is proving it through action.

What information can we glean from the posters

As of today, three posters have been released, and each one contains a lot of information. For example, the first one uses a transparent chassis view as the background, which allows everyone to see how solid Xiaomi’s car chassis materials are.

I think the biggest highlight is the front crash beam, which looks very solid in terms of materials. And because it uses integrated die-casting, the overall strength is higher.

You can compare it to other cars, and the difference is quite clear.

Then there’s the part about the motors, Xiaomi has made a lot of technical preparations in this regard, and Xiaomi SU7’s performance is indeed impressive. The total power of the four-wheel drive motors reaches 495 kW, which is equivalent to over 600 horsepower, surpassing even the Porsche Taycan Turbo, which has just over 400 horsepower. Most four-wheel drive cars are in this range.

Now, let’s take a look at the poster released today:

With a little post-processing to enhance the exposure, you can see the car very clearly.

This image basically shows the rear of Xiaomi’s car, and it looks really good. The curves of the car body are very harmonious and comfortable, and you can see the charging port is on the left.

Also, the car is likely green, so will green be Xiaomi’s main color this time?

The frame of the rearview mirror also looks very slim, so it should have a frameless rearview mirror design, and the actual driving visibility should be quite broad.

In conclusion

Finally, let’s talk about why Xiaomi has positioned its first car as a sports car, especially with the name SU7, which can also be read as “speed 7.”

In fact, from the perspective of the automotive industry’s development, to achieve longevity, speed and performance are indispensable aspects. Even BBA (BMW, Benz, Audi) started with performance cars. If you start by positioning your cars as family cars, it will be relatively difficult to expand into other areas later, because your brand will be typecast to some extent.

However, a sports car positioning will not satisfy everyone’s needs. Xiaomi’s Phase 1 factory has limited production capacity, so I think pricing will depend on Xiaomi’s early planning. There’s no need to aim for explosive sales; they can go at their own pace.

Based on previous positioning and news, I think a price range of ¥24,990 to ¥34,990 would be in line with expectations. On the one hand, this leaves room for future models, and on another level, it allows for real-time adjustments through policies, so the initial pricing is very important.

Unless there are unexpected changes, I will also buy a Xiaomi car. Go for it!

Xiaomi officially announced its entry into the car manufacturing industry 1000 days ago. Mr. Lei (Lei Jun) mentioned that during these 1000 days, he has test-driven over 150 different cars, changing cars on average every week. He truly deserves the title of a hardworking model! Whether it’s a newcomer or an established player in the automotive industry, it’s unlikely that you can find another boss with the same level of dedication as Mr. Lei.

Mr. Lei has poured all his efforts into SU7, and when combined with Xiaomi’s unparalleled ecosystem capabilities, it’s truly something to look forward to!

Xiaomi’s every seemingly casual move has the potential to trigger a future wave. Since its inception, they have been changing the world according to customer needs and their own understanding.

Mi cars are no exception.

As we enter 2023, a brand-new landscape and environment, every individual in the market is undergoing significant transformations. Xiaomi continues to forge ahead, and after years of effort, this global third-largest smartphone manufacturer and the largest smart home enterprise has introduced its own robust OS, along with the concept of “people, cars, and homes.” The car, which is the final product in this new strategy, is set to debut on December 28, 2023.

There is no doubt that Xiaomi’s venture into car manufacturing is not merely assembling building blocks. With 1000 days, 10 billion in funding, and a team of 3400 people, it is destined to yield remarkable results.

Now, the Xiaomi Car Technology Conference is here!

The main subject of Xiaomi Car Technology Conference’s promotional image is a structural perspective view. For those who understand a bit about batteries, it’s evident that this is a CTB or CTP design. This corresponds to the registration information for using CATL or Farasis batteries, and various aspects such as front suspension, motor layout, and anti-collision beams demonstrate the overall strength of the vehicle.

Even before announcing its foray into car manufacturing, Xiaomi had been strategically positioning itself in the upstream and downstream of the new energy vehicle industry chain. This covers various aspects of the entire vehicle manufacturing, car connectivity, automotive semiconductor, power batteries, electrical systems, and automobile sales. After the official announcement of car manufacturing, Xiaomi rapidly absorbed talents from various fields and acquired several related companies. In 2021, Mr. Lei even posted recruitment advertisements for Xiaomi’s autonomous driving department on Weibo, indicating the group’s level of commitment to car manufacturing.

Ecosystem is the core advantage of Xiaomi’s car manufacturing. What sets Xiaomi apart from traditional car manufacturers is that it has already gained hundreds of millions of users through the sales and promotion of personal and household devices such as smartphones and smart homes. Among this vast user base, there are many deeply engaged users of Xiaomi’s ecosystem.

As a typical essential household item, cars have always been lacking or unable to integrate with the household ecosystem. The integration between the car, the individual’s devices like smartphones and tablets, and the household is likely to be seamless. Imagine checking your pet’s real-time activity on the central screen of your Mi car, viewing your partner’s real-time driving conditions at home, having the lights and air conditioning automatically turn on when you’re less than 5 km away from home, and seeing a neatly filled bathtub while the robotic vacuum cleaner begins cleaning the entire house. It’s a vision of comfort and convenience.

All of this is entirely achievable. This is what “people, cars, and homes” means, and this is what warmth is all about.

Although Xiaomi entered the car manufacturing field relatively late and doesn’t have deep historical roots, they have mature product development, management, and operational experience and philosophies. Especially, they are skilled at identifying opportunities and potential in a crowded market. Benefiting from China’s advanced and mature new energy vehicle industry and their investments in the entire new energy vehicle industry chain, Xiaomi is rapidly consolidating resources and investing heavily in core technologies, continuing to advance in the fields of electric vehicles, intelligence, and ecosystem.

Ecosystem is the main selling point of Mi cars. However, interestingly, after Mr. Lei announced the car manufacturing venture 1000 days ago, the Xiaomi Car Technology Conference is just a technical conference. As a semi-technical person, I have to make some speculations.

I predict:

Xiaomi cars achieve a new level of energy conversion through the extensive use of SiC, as it’s impossible for a car of similar weight to Model S to achieve a maximum range of 850 km without it.

Xiaomi cars show significant results in structural optimization and should have the lowest level of drag coefficient currently.

Xiaomi cars likely have configurations inside that are more fascinating than refrigerators and large sofas with televisions.

Xiaomi cars' steering and advanced driving systems are expected to be outstanding in terms of functionality and user experience.

Xiaomi cars can fully utilize the current mainstream 600 kW charging stations, which means 600 kW, placing them in the first tier for fast charging experience.

There must be more details, or else why have a technical conference?

Unknowingly, 1000 days have passed, and now I think back to that sentence from spring 2021, it still feels fresh in my memory. Mi cars have successfully emerged, with a price range of approximately 250,000 to 350,000 RMB, and a focus on technology-first. They have chosen the right path.

The last image is Lei Jun’s response, and all the information is accurate. Xiaomi has a high level of attention in the automotive industry due to its high visibility.

Recently, the automotive industry has released many new cars, especially the Huawei Vessel M9 and Zhijie S7, which have generated a lot of buzz. There’s also Chery’s New Era ES and Geely’s Galaxy E8, all of which are competitors to Xiaomi’s SU7 in the smart car market.

In this age where traffic is king, it’s crucial to capture traffic to reach customers. By grabbing the attention, Xiaomi can potentially make a significant impact. Xiaomi’s car should come into the spotlight. It’s best to start with a technical release, rather than launching the product immediately. There are probably many quality issues that haven’t been resolved yet. Making cars is not an easy task. Before production begins, there is usually a long list of quality issues that need to be addressed.

Start with a pre-release event to get some attention, initiate pre-orders, and adjust the pricing based on actual circumstances when it’s time for delivery.

Xiaomi Car Technology Conference Q&A with Netizens

Q: What will be discussed at this conference, and how long will it last approximately? A: This conference will focus on technology and will not unveil products. Xiaomi’s car manufacturing process is rooted in core technology development from the ground up. The R&D team, consisting of over 3,400 members, includes thousands of technical experts who have achieved numerous innovations and breakthroughs in various technology fields. Smart electric vehicles represent the fusion of the automotive and consumer electronics industries, and Xiaomi’s accumulated technology and experience in consumer electronics contribute to its strength in the car sector. I plan to provide a comprehensive explanation. I believe that after listening, you will have a completely different understanding of Xiaomi’s car. The conference will start at 2:00 PM and is estimated to last around 3 hours.

Q: Why is the first car called SU7? A: SU stands for Speed Ultra. High performance is in Xiaomi’s DNA, and just like Tesla said they won’t make slow cars, we’re doing the same. The SU7 has outstanding performance, and you can look forward to it. As for how to pronounce it, we’ve had internal discussions, and in the end, everyone felt that “Su Qi” (苏七) sounded more friendly, like calling a friend by their name.

Q: What is the positioning of Xiaomi SU7, and why did you choose to make a sedan for the first car? A: The first car represents Xiaomi’s car manufacturing philosophy: Technology x Ecology, an advanced mobile intelligent space. Therefore, Xiaomi SU7 is positioned as a “C-class high-performance ecological technology sedan.” As for why we chose to make a sedan, I will explain it in detail at the conference.

Q: What is the benchmark for Xiaomi’s first car? A: Xiaomi SU7 does not have a direct benchmark. We conducted extensive research, and we hope to create a car that can fulfill everyone’s dreams. In terms of mechanical qualities such as driving performance, we aim to be on par with the Porsche Taycan Turbo. In terms of intelligence, we hope to be comparable to the Tesla Model S. At the same time, we aim to have the most advanced technology and the richest ecosystem.

Q: When will Xiaomi SU7 be launched, and what will be the price? A: Xiaomi SU7 is currently in the trial production and climbing phase. It will take a few more months before the official launch, so please be patient. Regarding pricing, we haven’t made a final decision yet. However, Xiaomi SU7 is indeed a bit expensive, but please trust that our pricing is “reasonable,” and the experience will definitely exceed your expectations.

In conclusion, I believe Xiaomi’s car will succeed.

The rollout from smartphones to automobiles is happening rapidly?

December 26th, 14:30 - Huawei Wanjie M9 Launch Event

December 27th, 20:00 - Extreme Genesis 007 Market Launch Event

December 28th, 14:00 - Xiaomi Car Technology Launch Event

January 1st - XPeng X9 MPV Market Launch Event

PS: The hot topics today are quite diverse, especially regarding Huawei Wanjie M9.

Lei Jun’s response at the Xiaomi Car Technology Launch Event:

I won’t pay much attention to Huawei’s prices. Judging from the smartphone market, ordinary people may find it unaffordable, while the wealthy can easily afford it. I’ve been using Xiaomi smartphones, so I’m quite looking forward to Xiaomi’s car. Additionally, is there a gift of 14 [something] with the car purchase?

In my opinion, let me share my personal perspective on this car.

In my view, Xiaomi’s car is Lei Jun’s dream, a move by Lei Jun to elevate the Xiaomi brand to a higher level and enhance its brand value. Cars, as consumer products for Chinese people, are still somewhat luxurious, especially the SU7 with its high-performance ecological positioning in the C-segment. It should be a mid-to-high-end model.

Consider the various series of a certain car model, such as the 3 Series, 5 Series, 7 Series, and think about various electronic products like processors with i3, i5, i7, and graphics cards with 4050, 4070, and so on. We can see that in various products, the series with the code “7” doesn’t seem to be entry-level; they are at least mid-to-high-end models.

So, as a mid-to-high-end positioned model and a major commodity that families need to choose carefully, it will undoubtedly have high requirements for reliability and functionality. This means that Xiaomi’s first car must fully meet these demands and showcase its technological prowess.

My first technological expectation from Xiaomi’s car naturally revolves around the seamless connectivity brought by “Pengpai OS.” From what we’ve seen so far, Pengpai OS integration into various new devices has made device interconnection more convenient and seamless. What can be anticipated from Xiaomi’s car is its ability to seamlessly integrate into the Pengpai OS ecosystem. The potential applications of this are vast, including seamless switching between the phone and the car’s infotainment system, the car’s built-in premium stereo sound, remote location tracking and parking assistance, and built-in head-up displays for navigation, similar to what other competitors offer. Xiaomi is expected to have all these technologies.

The second technological expectation is, of course, intelligent driving. Artificial intelligence was already quite popular before the advent of large models, and in the era of large models, artificial intelligence has increasingly begun to be applied in more fields. With highway adaptive cruise control already becoming a standard feature of intelligent driving today, I’m actually more excited about the valet parking function in parking lots. For example, being able to drop off the car at the entrance to the parking lot and having the vehicle automatically find a parking spot. In such low-speed scenarios, precise behavior of the vehicle’s intelligent driving is worth looking forward to. Artificial intelligence may truly become a reliable assistant to humans in the future.

In fact, Xiaomi has developed intelligent devices such as robot dogs and smart lights, and boasts the most comprehensive IoT ecosystem layout in China. All these aspects indicate that Xiaomi has great ideas, motivations, and strengths in artificial intelligence. However, the extent of their research and development in this area and whether Xiaomi has any big surprises in store remain to be seen at the launch event.

The third expectation is related to offline expansion. Unlike smartphones, vehicles cannot exist without offline services. Even if a car is sold only in one city, it cannot prevent car owners from driving it all over the country, and it is difficult to prevent the need for after-sales service outlets across the country. The production and sale of cars require a large-scale offline layout, which poses a new challenge to Xiaomi’s industrial integration and resource integration capabilities. Once this hurdle is crossed, Xiaomi’s offline strength will be greatly enhanced, which will in turn boost sales of other Xiaomi electronic products.

Finally, let me speculate about the current situation of this car

Why has Xiaomi been a ‘successful disruptor’ when entering new industries?

Why?

New product definitions, interesting new features, reasonable pricing!

Leveraging Xiaomi’s brand and distribution channels, it saves marketing and distribution costs, offering more powerful, interconnected products with appealing aesthetics. It’s truly attractive.

Xiaomi’s car launch event is finally coming!

However, like most people, I have doubts and reservations about Xiaomi’s car. The automotive industry involves heavy assets, unlike sockets or vacuum cleaners. There are formidable competitors. Can Xiaomi’s car find a ‘place’?

Last year, when watching ‘China Rap Showdown,’ a team stood out with a rap song, ‘A Place,’ performed mainly by rap artists Yang and Su

In the blink of an eye, a thousand days and nights have passed since Lei Jun announced Xiaomi’s entry into the automotive industry. In fact, news about the announcement had been circulating even before the event, but Xiaomi hadn’t started any marketing or promotion until less than a week ago, which seemed a bit unusual. Now that the poster is out, I finally understand – it turns out Lei Jun wanted to start the prelude at this somewhat special moment, the “one thousandth day of announcing car manufacturing.”

Those who follow Xiaomi and Xiaomi’s automotive endeavors are well aware that as the event approaches, controversies continue to arise. I believe this wave of publicity indicates that Xiaomi’s automotive venture is indeed noteworthy. As the saying goes, “the bigger the waves, the more valuable the fish.” So, let’s put the controversies aside for now and focus on the content of the event.

Xiaomi’s event on December 28th is a technical presentation for “Xiaomi Automobile,” meaning that, compared to the product itself, this event will focus more on the technology integrated into Xiaomi’s vehicles. The reason for having a technology-focused event first is probably because Xiaomi needs to showcase its achievements from these one thousand days of effort before revealing the products. This is crucial for the long-term development of Xiaomi’s automotive venture.

Of course, Xiaomi currently has only one car model. While we may not discuss products extensively, these technologies will be incorporated into the first car, making it a quasi-product launch event.

Returning to the specifics of the technology, Lei Jun mentioned in a recent interview that Xiaomi’s venture into car manufacturing was guided by two key principles

Lei Jun said today

A quick glance at the various standard answer-style responses below, and the biggest impression is that it’s very similar to the advertising copy of VINFAST in Vietnam.

** Vietnam’s VF car-making follows a similar pattern

Preface / Related Content

We are just over 40 hours away from the Xiaomi Car Technology Launch Event.

I believe many friends, like me, are eagerly anticipating this event, hoping to see more news about Mi cars.

Regarding Mi cars, I have been following closely from the very beginning, from the initial approval by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology to Lei Jun’s CCTV interview last week. I have written more than 10 responses and thoughts.

How do you view Xiaomi’s car being approved by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology? How do you evaluate Xiaomi Car SU7’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology public disclosure of battery and range information? How long do we have until we meet it? How do you view Lei Jun’s first response to the topic of car-making in the CCTV interview? Any thoughts on Ren Zeping’s statement that Xiaomi will take the lead in the “technology giant and ecosystem car-making” new path? What insights does this path provide for the industry?

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1000 Days / 1000 Responses

As Lei Jun mentioned in the preheating yesterday, it has been exactly 1000 days since Xiaomi officially announced its car-making venture.

Memories from 1000 Days Ago

In March 2021, I was fortunate to be invited to attend the Xiaomi launch event for the first time.

Who would have known that my first participation would coincide with a blockbuster launch event that would go down in Xiaomi’s history: at this event, Lei Jun announced Xiaomi’s entry into the smart electric vehicle industry.

I will never forget that launch event and the cheers of the audience that day.

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Passion for 1000 Responses

The number 1000 also has special significance for me because the article you are currently reading is my 1000th response (I can guarantee that there was no padding or deleting of responses, it’s just the right number).

This was taken before the release, and I can assure you it’s exactly the 1000th response.

*Last week, I also achieved a new milestone on Zhihu by becoming a dual-topic excellent answerer. *So, when Lei Jun talked about the story of Mi cars over the past three years, I was deeply touched. I believe that to do something well, you must be able to endure loneliness. Taking shortcuts is not advisable and is pointless. It really can’t be rushed.

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Expectations for the Technology Launch Event

A Driver’s Car

For the technology launch event, I have high expectations. Some electric cars today may be overly focused on comfort, believing that a big sofa and a large screen TV make a good car, but they haven’t tried to become a fun-to-drive car.

But as I mentioned before, SU7 is sure to strive towards being a “driver’s car.” Now Lei Jun has explained in the Q&A that SU = Speed Ultra.

Before, in the group, many friends made various guesses, but it seems that none of them were correct, haha.

I think since they are confident in naming it this way, having strong acceleration performance and top speed alone is not enough. SU7 must have put effort into other aspects of the driving experience and mechanical qualities, which makes me look forward to actually test driving SU7 soon.

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What is SU7’s Positioning? Which Car Does It Benchmark?

This is also a question that many people are asking. Lei Jun’s answer is: the driving quality of Taycan Turbo plus the intelligence of Model S.

Coincidentally! In the comparison table I made earlier, I compared these two models many times, and I even said that SU7 “has the closest size to Model S, making it a standard mid-size large car.”

I also mentioned that SU7 Max is a “high-performance + long-range mid-size large car,” which is very similar to Lei Jun’s description in his answer.

In this comparison table, I chose Taycan Turbo as the benchmark, and even the specific sub-models matched.

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To Be Continued…

I’ll write a part first, and I’ll add more content later.

My Heart is Surging

Still, I’ll end with a slogan I really like.

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Xiaomi needs to abandon the inherent concept of cost-effectiveness on smartphones.

This is Xiaomi’s biggest weakness.

Even if it’s as well-made as Tesla’s Model Y.

Even if it’s on par with the Zhijie S7.

The perception Xiaomi has created over the years is that this car can only be sold for 150,000 RMB or 159,800 RMB.

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For Xiaomi, selling this car for over 300,000 RMB will be a significant challenge.

All of these issues are a result of Xiaomi’s consistent positioning in the past.

Fortunately, Xiaomi is now selling electric cars, which can easily outperform oil-powered cars in the same price range!

Electric cars can still attract a substantial number of users away from conventional vehicles!

The world’s largest consumer-grade IoT platform.

The world’s first mobile phone company to independently manufacture electric vehicles in its own factory.

I wonder what surprises Xiaomi’s “people-vehicle-home” ecosystem will bring?

Since Xiaomi’s first smartphone was released on August 16, 2011, it has been 12 years.

In these 12 years, Xiaomi has experienced ups and downs. Although doubts have never ceased, it has steadily become the youngest Chinese company to enter the Fortune Global 500. It ranks third in the world in terms of smartphone shipments, and it leads by a wide margin in IoT devices and scale.

At this point in time, Xiaomi has finally launched its first car, the Xiaomi SU7.

However, before the car’s release on December 28, Xiaomi will hold a technical event to detail what it has done in the 1,000 days since it began making cars.

Talking about technology before the car’s release is a very correct decision.

Unlike previous smartphone launches where various technologies were steadily iterated, this is Xiaomi’s first car, and Lei Jun undoubtedly has a lot to say and be proud of to share with Mi Fans. There are also many new technologies to introduce to everyone.

For this, I did a quick search, and Xiaomi currently has 1,099 patents related to its car.

Among them, there are 774 invention patents.

You should know that from the announcement of Xiaomi’s car-making to now, it’s been less than 1,000 days, and there are still many patents in the application process. Having this number of patents is already quite impressive.

Because I studied computer vision during my postgraduate years, I took a brief look at the patents related to image recognition and point clouds. It’s clear that Xiaomi has put a lot of effort into autonomous driving. I hope that when the real car is unveiled next year, it will impress people.

Since Xiaomi announced its car-making plans, many people have been debating one question: “Is Xiaomi too late to enter the car industry?”

If this was two years ago, I might have hesitated to answer this question, but now I am very sure: it’s not too late at all.

In fact, over the past two years, as the market for new energy vehicles has gradually expanded, and people’s acceptance of electric cars has increased, major manufacturers have shifted their focus from “new energy” to “smart” and “user-friendly.”

Mainly because, as the supply chain matures and market competition intensifies, many cars can no longer differentiate themselves enough in terms of hardware. Just like today’s smartphone market, how does the smartphone market operate? That’s right, differentiation and large-scale AI.

Similarly, in the automotive field, when hardware can no longer dominate, what can still make a difference? Autonomous driving and ecosystem.

When it comes to the ecosystem, Xiaomi is not to be underestimated. In terms of the ecosystem and IoT, who is Xiaomi’s competitor in the market? (Xiaomi: I only need to make a slight move, and I already know your limits).

Perhaps many people have not realized how terrifying Xiaomi’s ecosystem is. It has subtly penetrated into many areas.

This is also why Lei Jun called it “Tech Giant, Ecosystem-Made Cars.” I have to say, Lei Jun’s vision is still too far ahead.

And with the launch of Xiaomi Hyper OS, Xiaomi’s “People-Vehicle-Home” ecosystem slogan is about to complete the final loop. With the continuous learning and iteration of Hyper Mind, everything we can think of, and things we can’t think of, will be realized one by one.

Imagine, the location you searched for on your phone’s map, automatically synchronizes to the car’s navigation system when you get in; the songs you played on your Xiaomi Xiao Ai smart speaker at home start playing automatically when you get in the car; and even the air conditioning temperature you’re used to at home automatically adjusts to the corresponding temperature when you’re driving.

Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the ecosystem experience. I believe that when the Xiaomi SU7 is released, it will have more features that will surpass my imagination. This is probably why Xiaomi calls the car a “mobile intelligent space.”

Of course, in Xiaomi’s product style, even if they emphasize the ecosystem, they won’t be lax in terms of hardware.

They even use a perspective view of the chassis in their promotional materials. You can imagine how confident they are in their product. This image has already been dissected by many industry professionals online, and you can take a look if you’re interested.

But I searched for a lot of information, and it seems that no one has mentioned Xiaomi’s car chassis reinforcement. So I looked up Xiaomi’s patents, and this kind of reinforcement beam has high torsional stiffness and good stability. It can effectively prevent instability in the event of a collision, improving the overall safety of the vehicle.

Interestingly, this image was posted by Xiaomi’s official Weibo yesterday, and it happens to have a “Christmas tree” on the car’s chassis, which is also a romantic coincidence.

With the ultimate stacking of materials and a unique ecosystem experience, Xiaomi SU7’s price is destined not to be cheap.

After all, Xiaomi’s car is currently produced by Xiaomi’s own factory. If it’s too cheap, it will sell out all at once, and the factory won’t be able to keep up (escape).

According to the previous positioning and information, a price between 250,000 and 350,000 yuan is relatively safe. This price can ensure the material stacking and leave enough profit margin to ensure the positive development of Xiaomi’s entire automotive industry chain.

Su-7, NATO reporting name

Xiaomi, are you using some tactics, not scared by the Huawei M9 launch event, to buy sponsored articles and trend on hot searches?

As for the Wanjie M9, it only stayed as a trending topic for 3 hours.

Recorded as of December 26, 2023, at 20:35, the following statistics are available:

There are a total of 44 responses, almost all of them are praises, among which:

• Long-format image-text responses: 18, accounting for 40.9%
• Short-format guest responses: 26, accounting for 59.1%

Posted 3 hours ago: 1 response, including 1 long-format image-text response

Posted 2 hours ago: 4 responses, including 4 long-format image-text responses

Posted 1 hour ago: 6 responses, including 6 long-format image-text responses

Posted within the last hour: 33 responses, with 7 being long-format image-text responses.