New carmaker enters market

Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has revealed its first electric vehicle (EV) as it strives to become one of the world’s top five carmakers.

The SU7, with the SU standing for speed ultra, has what chief executive Lei Jun calls “super electric motor” technology capable of delivering faster acceleration than Tesla cars and Porsche’s EVs.

He says his company has big ambitions and the sedan is expected to go on sale this year, reports Reuters.

“By working hard over the next 15 to 20 years, we will become one of the world's top five automakers, striving to lift China's overall automobile industry,” adds Lei.

The SU7 will have a shared operating system with Xiaomi’s phones and electronic devices, providing drivers with access to the company’s existing portfolio of mobile apps.

It will be available in two versions, one with a driving range of up to 668km on a single charge and another with a range of up to 800km.

Lei says the vehicle also boasts fast-charging capabilities in low temperatures and technology that allows it to recognise obstacles under challenging conditions such as falling snow.

The autonomous driving capabilities of Xiaomi cars would be at the forefront of the industry, he claims. Pricing has yet to be announced. 

Xiaomi has pledged to invest US$10 billion (NZ$16b) in vehicles over a decade and its models will be produced by a unit of China’s state-owned carmaker BAIC Group.