In the world of electric cars, the Tesla Model 3 is somewhat of a “model to beat.” The American sedan now faces tougher competition, especially from models like the BMW i4 or the Volkswagen ID.3, but the Tesla Model 3 manages to hold its ground thanks to Unsurpassed price/quality ratio on the marketwhile the US manufacturer ecosystem continues to influence change in the eyes of many customers.

From the side of Chinese manufacturers, the Model 3 is also in sight, and with the American one, a new model will soon begin. As you probably know if you follow automotive news closely, Chinese smartphone maker (among others) Xiaomi plans to soon launch his first electric car.

A model that will arrive earlier than expected

And, obviously, it should arrive sooner than expected. Indeed, on the occasion of the annual meeting of the National People’s Congress, Lei Jun, co-founder and general manager of Xiaomi, announced that the development of car production exceeded expectations.

Xiaomi’s action plan within the automotive division seems to be working well. In 2021, the company planned to invest up to 10 billion yuan (about 1.35 billion euros) over the next ten years, and it is currently more than 3 billion yuan (about 400 million euros).

Xiaomi is preparing a series of electric cars

The model responsible for competing with the Tesla Model 3, codenamed “MS11”, is due to be officially unveiled this year, for entering production in 2024. Two versions with two different batteries should be offered.

The car should also focus on top-of-the-line autonomous driving technologies, including LiDAR integration by Hesai Technology.

The MS11 will be the first model of Xiaomi’s automotive division. Four more models will join it later, including an SUV due to hit the market in 2025. The catalog should be completed in 2027. It remains to be seen whether the Chinese brand will invest in Europe with its new models. If so, they should be sold at particularly competitive prices.