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Karen Chiu

No, you can’t buy a Xiaomi-made SUV just yet.
The Chinese gadget maker created a social media storm on Sunday after putting up a poster on Weibo that suggested the company was getting into the car manufacturing business.
“Making cars? We are serious!” read a slogan that was accompanied by a silhouette of a mysterious vehicle.
The speculation didn’t last long, though. Within about an hour, Xiaomi’s public relations manager Xu Jieyun clarified that the person in charge of the Weibo post had made a mistake. He said the company has no immediate plans to make a car.
But Xiaomi does have a car in the pipeline -- just not one that you can drive.
After deleting the original Weibo post, the company announced that it’s releasing a remote-controlled version of the Suzuki Jimny SUV. The 1:16 scale replica will retail for 199 yuan (around US$28) in China.
While Xiaomi has shattered hopes for a car manufactured by the smartphone company for the moment, the idea has popped up multiple times in the past.
In 2017, the company reported in a regulatory filing in India that it might sell electric vehicles. At the time, an employee told the Financial Times that the company didn’t currently have any cars in production.
Then last year, Xiaomi partnered up with FAW -- the Chinese state-owned carmaker best known for building the iconic Red Flag sedans that chauffeur top Communist officials. According to promotional materials, the Xiaomi version of the Bestune T77 SUV allows owners to remotely control Xiaomi’s smart home products through voice commands in the vehicle. Prices started at 124,800 yuan (US$17,625).
And just this month, Xiaomi registered a Chinese trademark that roughly translates as “Xiaomi car alliance.”
The auto business is proving enticing for other tech giants, too. Huawei recently teamed up with 18 carmakers in China to develop 5G-connected vehicles for consumers. Experts say 5G will be essential for self-driving cars, allowing them to be remotely controlled during emergencies, for instance.


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Xiaomi’s new Suzuki Jimny is just a toy, but it might have real car ambitions

Xiaomi’s new “car” is a 1:16 scale remote-controlled Suzuki Jimny. (Picture: Handout)

Xiaomi says controversial ‘nuclear bomb’ ad wasn’t meant for Japan

Other Xiaomi ads for the Redmi Note 9 Pro seem a lot less offensive. (Picture: Xiaomi/YouTube)

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Former Lenovo executive Chang Cheng only joined Xiaomi several months ago. (Picture: Xiaomi via WeChat)

Forget 5G, Xiaomi is getting ready for 6G

Xiaomi’s Lei Jun attended the Two Sessions this year as a member of the National People’s Congress. (Picture: Jason Lee/Reuters)

Huawei signs up 18 carmakers to drive 5G adoption in China with connected vehicle initiative

Huawei Technologies, the world’s largest telecommunications equipment supplier, has been involved in many tests of connected cars in China and overseas over the past few years. Photo: Handout

The Baojun RC-6 car from SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile is equipped with a 5G module from Huawei Technologies.

Sonos denies rumors of partnership after Xiaomi unveils new smart speaker

The Sonos One (left) and Xiaomi’s latest smart speaker (right) both have a similar wraparound metal plate. (Picture: Sonos/Xiaomi)

The Sonos One (left) and Xiaomi’s latest smart speaker (right) have a different shape. (Picture: Sonos/Xiaomi)

Abacus

Tech


Xiaomi introduces a remote-controlled SUV after social media confusion
The gadget giant previously launched a special edition SUV in partnership with Chinese carmaker FAW



Xiaomi’s new Suzuki Jimny is just a toy, but it might have real car ambitions

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Xiaomi introduces a remote-controlled SUV after social media confusion The gadget giant previously launched a special edition SUV in partnership with Chinese carmaker FAW

Xiaomi introduces a remote-controlled SUV after social media confusion

The gadget giant previously launched a special edition SUV in partnership with Chinese carmaker FAW