Electric vehicles are no longer surprising anyone. Every automotive manufacturer considers it their duty to showcase their latest innovation in the form of a concept car at themed exhibitions. One thing is to come up with a new idea, and another is to put a car into production. News from China has invigorated the global market. Xiaomi officially announced that it intends to invest 10 billion yuan (which is $1.5 billion) in the electric vehicle “Smart Home on Wheels.”
Xiaomi is not Tesla – the Chinese like to make promises
Recalling Elon Musk, who instantly turns all his ideas into working projects, the statements from the Chinese seem less convincing. After the presentation of the smart home on wheels, powered by electricity, the media managed to find something interesting.
The vehicle presented at the presentation is not a 3D computer model but a real transport. It was previously produced on order for a client whose name is not yet available to the press. The idea is interesting and practical. Moreover, Xiaomi has all the drawings and resources to make the vehicle. The question is about the price. The Chinese modestly ignored all questions regarding the cost of the camper. And this means that the price of Xiaomi’s smart home is far from budget class.
It will be interesting to see how Elon Musk reacts to this news by launching his own campers. Considering Tesla’s reputation, consumers have more trust in the brand. No offense to the Chinese brand Xiaomi, but the company is a newcomer in this field. Jumping so abruptly from the electronics segment to the automotive industry is a very risky move.
All Xiaomi innovations can be seen in a 3-hour presentation video. The smart home on wheels is discussed at the 2:23 mark.
