After repeated mentions of its intention to enter the electric car market, Xiaomi CEO announced earlier this year that the company is ready to begin production of its first electric car model in the first half of next year. Chinese media reported that the company’s focus on electric vehicles was confirmed by the detection of four prototypes on the roads in Xinjiang this week, coinciding with the presence of Xiaomi executives in the same region.

Xiaomi is preparing an electric car

According to information from Xiaomiui, some of Xiaomi’s top executives may have been directly involved in the testing phase of MS11 prototypes. While their visit was ostensibly focused on evaluating the user experience of the upcoming Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 smartphone, the photos shared by Lei Jun and Lu Weibing contained elements that hinted at a link with the electric car project.

In particular, common visual materials included an electric car banner and a group photo. The geotags attached to these images indicate their locations in Xinjiang.

Photo shared by Xiaomi car poster / Photo by Lei Jun

As for the prototypes, the camouflaged electric cars seen on the roads of Xinjiang had different characteristics. Some models had lidar technology, while others did not. The inclusion of lidar technology in the final production version is expected to depend on the vehicle configuration.

Lidars used in advanced driver assistance systems cannot be integrated everywhere due to their relatively high cost. Remarkable details gleaned from the images include the presence of yellow brakes and angular dashboard elements inside the cabin.

Under favorable conditions, the Xiaomi MS11 electric car could potentially hit the market in the first quarter of next year. It is common practice for automakers to test their prototypes in different regions, and Xiaomi’s case is no exception. Aiming to enter the electric car industry, the company is taking another step towards achieving its goals with ongoing trials in various parts of China.