From smartphones to cars. This is the new “mission” of the main Asian device manufacturers, ready to enter the automotive sector with models capable of changing the balance. If in a few years brands such as Xiaomi or Oppo (BBK group) have managed to climb the sales rankings, now the goal is to attack a hitherto unknown market. How to do it? By making the Chinese electric car a product characterized by strong technological innovation, thanks to the central role of electric mobility. All this is also fueled by the decisions of the European Union on electric cars, thus eliminating the technological advantage of European brands in the automotive field. The reason? If until now building an efficient car was a complex operation that required time and multi-billion dollar investments, with the car without pistons all this will change. Thanks also to the Chinese industrial capacity, to the available investments and to the “unique” direction at national level. Batteries and software will be the heart of the car, together with all that fundamental components starting from semiconductors, thus ensuring China and Asia a position of dominance in the short term. Therefore, the announcements of Foxconn (Taiwanese but with factories in China) and Xiaomi are not surprising, ready to support the construction of smartphones with electric cars in a few years. Starting from the manufacturer of Apple’s iPhone: three vehicles were in fact presented and developed independently by the Chinese giant Hon Hai (owner of Foxconn) in 12 months. They will be built by Foxtron, a joint venture between Foxconn and the Taiwanese car manufacturer Yulon Motor Co Ltd. In detail, it will be an SUV, a sedan designed by Pininfarina and a bus, thus underlining the desire to cover different market segments.
As for Xiaomi, the electric car will arrive in 2024. It will not be a concept car but one that will be mass produced. Xiaomi has allocated 10 billion dollars in March over the next ten years, with an initial investment of 1.5 billion dollars. To date, over 400 people have been hired out of the 20,000 applications received. Added value of the electric car produced by Xiaomi will be to be integrated into the smart ecosystem developed by the Chinese manufacturer, which ranges from smartphones, appliances, devices and scooters.
To this will be added the models produced by the Geely Group (the first shareholder of Daimler and owner of the Volvo Group) starting from Lynk & Co already available in Italy, the vehicles under the Aiways, Karma, Maxus, Seres and Weltmeister brands imported by the Koelliker Group, Mg and in future the supercar produced by Silk-Faw.