Rumor | Xiaomi's first car will be a 4-door electric sedan with in-house self-driving tech set to launch in 2024

Lei Jun is overtly driving Xiaomi to become a major EV marque in China at least, even though other companies in the space are way ahead of it and it faces criticism of having "missed its window" to get into the industry in any case.

The OEM has found that getting into the e-car game as its CEO envisions is even more challenging than becoming a major global mobile tech brand already, having most recently even considered the compromise of making its first cars in partnership with BAIC rather than establishing its own manufacturing plant in Yizhuang, China as originally planned.

However, according to the latest word from industry blogs, these talks have now been called off and Xiaomi will forge ahead with its inaugural car (a sedan set around a surprisingly low 150,000-yuan (~US$21,700) price-point) to go into production as early as 2024.

The electronics giant also reportedly plans to launch its own self-driving system at around the same point. Currently known as Xiaomi Pilot, it has already been unveiled in prototype form and is said to be based on LiDAR developed in partnership with the company Hesai Technology, incorporating that OEM's existing AT128 hybrid solid-state radar module.

It might be augmented with additional solid-state radar tech for comprehensive viewing angles and minimal blind spots. Therefore, Xiaomi might indeed be able to claw its way into the car market within the next few years after all.

Buy a waterproof cover for your EV charge-port on Amazon