Xiaomi revs up smart driving team, aims for industry top tier in 2024

Xiaomi is rapidly expanding its smart driving research and development (R&D) team, aiming to become a major player in the electric vehicle (EV) industry by the end of 2024.

“Smart driving is the key battleground for smart electric vehicles,” said Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun in a recent Weibo post.

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Xiaomi has grown its smart driving R&D team to over 1,000 employees, and Jun revealed plans to push that number to 1,500 by year-end. The team boasts a dedicated fleet of test vehicles and has already accumulated over 10 million kilometers of road testing data.

“Xiaomi’s smart driving development is likely one of the fastest and most intensive in the industry,” Jun wrote. “Our goal is to enter the top tier of the industry within 2024.”

Jun hinted at further advancements in smart driving technology to be unveiled at the upcoming launch event for the Xiaomi SU7 EV, scheduled for Thursday, March 28th.

Rapid R&D Fueled by Acquisitions

A relative newcomer to the EV market, Xiaomi has accelerated its smart driving development through strategic acquisitions. In 2021, the company acquired DeepMotion Tech Limited, an autonomous driving technology firm, fortifying its expertise in high-precision mapping and positioning.

Xiaomi has also invested heavily in its in-house R&D efforts. In August 2022, the company committed 3.3 billion yuan ($460 million) to the first phase of its self-driving program, with a dedicated team exceeding 500 engineers at the time.

This initial phase involved deploying 140 test vehicles, showcasing Xiaomi’s commitment to real-world testing and development.

The upcoming launch of the SU7 is a significant milestone for Xiaomi’s EV ambitions. The company hopes the vehicle’s standard high-level smart driving features, including highway pilot assisted driving and advanced parking assistance, will propel them towards their goal of becoming a top-tier smart driving player within the year.