No one would have expected it, but Xiaomi is looking beyond pure electric. A patent filed in early December reveals that the company is developing hybrid vehicle technologies and traditional tank, a sign of a broader strategy than the market expected considering the latest statements regarding the trend in the EV sectorIn short, the first gasoline-powered Xiaomi car could actually arrive in the future.
Xiaomi Gasoline Car: New Patent Reveals Plans
The document, released by the Chinese Intellectual Property Administration (here's a photo), describes a software system for stabilize the fuel gaugeA seemingly trivial problem, yet anyone who has driven knows the annoyance of those needles that dance nervously at every bend or bump.
The mechanism that will be on this Xiaomi petrol car works through continuous comparisons: it calculates the value shown on the dashboard, compares it with the data from the sensors in the tank and, when the difference exceeds a certain threshold, apply gradual corrections until the two values realign.
But what we ask ourselves is: why would a company that has launched into the electric sector invest resources in fuel-related technologies? The answer probably lies in the extended-range models, those vehicles that combine a battery and a combustion engine to eliminate range anxiety. Xiaomi is reportedly preparing the YU9, an SUV over 5,2 meters long with this very configuration, where managing the fuel tank level with precision becomes essential.
The numbers suggest the company knows what it's doing: half a million vehicles delivered since its launch in April 2024, annual targets already exceeded, and nearly 50.000 units per month in recent months. With this growth rate, every detail matters in the perception of quality.
The choice not to focus on sensors and more sophisticated technology tells something about Xiaomi's philosophy: solve problems that already exist through technologies we have, keeping costs low.
A formula that worked in smartphones and that the company is now systematically applying to the automotive sector, building piece by piece a modular platform capable of adapting to any type of propulsion the market requires.
