The giant of Chinese technology Xiaomi is about to enter the electric car market with its first sedan model, whose code name is “MS 11“. Some information about this project was recently revealed by the Bluetooth SIG database, the body that certifies devices that use Bluetooth technology.
Two important parameters of the first Xiaomi car revealed: Qualcomm chip and Apple CarPlay support
According to what is reported by the database, Xiaomi's first car will have the cockpit chip Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295, the latest and most powerful processor for automotive applications. Also, the car will support v5.2 version of Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay functionality, which allows you to connect your iPhone to your car's infotainment system.
This information confirms that Xiaomi is aiming to create an intelligent and connected car, capable of offering a high-level user experience. Let's see in detail what the characteristics of the two parameters revealed are.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295: a 5nm chip with eight times the performance of its predecessor
Il Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 it is a chip dedicated to automotive applications, based on 5 nanometer technology which guarantees high energy efficiency and a reduction in heat generated. It is an octa-core processor with a maximum frequency of 2,8 GHz, equipped with an Adreno 660 GPU and an artificial intelligence processing unit (AI Engine) with 26 TOPS (trillions of operations per second).
This chip offers eight times the performance of its predecessor, the Snapdragon 8155, and can support several advanced features for smart cars, such as autonomous driving, automatic parking, voice interaction, augmented reality and integrated security. Furthermore, the chip supports both Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2, ensuring fast and stable connectivity.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 has already been adopted by some Chinese car manufacturers, such as Jiyue, which launched its first model equipped with this chip in March 2023, with a starting price of 260.000 yuan (around 33.000 euros). According to the AnTuTu benchmark results, the Snapdragon 8295 far outperforms other automotive chips in terms of performance.
Apple CarPlay: a feature that expands the integration possibilities between iPhone and car
The other information revealed by the Bluetooth SIG database concerns support for Apple CarPlay by Xiaomi's first car. This is a feature that allows you to connect your iPhone to the car's infotainment system via a USB cable or a wireless connection and access some smartphone apps and services directly on the car's screen.
With Apple CarPlay you can make calls, send messages, listen to music, navigate with maps, use Siri and other CarPlay compatible apps, such as Spotify, Audible, Waze and many others. In this way, you can make the most of your smartphone without taking your attention away from driving.
The support for Apple CarPlay by Xiaomi's first car demonstrates that the Chinese manufacturer does not want to exclude any segment of users from its automotive project and that it intends to offer an open solution compatible with different operating systems. This contrasts with previously circulated rumors that Xiaomi's cars could only connect to Xiaomi smartphones.
Xiaomi is preparing to debut in the electric car market
The information on the Qualcomm chip and support for Apple CarPlay are just some of the many that have emerged in recent months on Xiaomi's automotive project. The Chinese manufacturer has in fact officially announced that it intends to enter the electric car sector in March 2021, with an initial investment of 10 billion yuan (around 1,3 billion euros) and a forecast of 100 billion yuan (around 13 billion euro) over the next 10 years.
Xiaomi has also created a subsidiary company dedicated to the automotive sector, called Xiaomi EV Inc., led by founder and CEO Lei Jun. The company has already hired over 300 people and has started research and development of its first car model, which should be a mid-high range sedan with a price around 300.000 yuan (around 38.000 euros).
According to some sources, Xiaomi has already obtained approval from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) for the production of electric cars and is awaiting approval from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) . Furthermore, Xiaomi has already started recruiting staff for its Yizhuang factory in Beijing, which would have an annual production capacity of 150.000-200.000 vehicles.
Regarding the technical characteristics of its first car, Xiaomi would have chosen China Innovation Aviation and CATL, two leading companies in the sector, as battery suppliers. The car would be equipped with a 101 kWh ternary lithium battery and an 800 V platform, which would allow for fast charging and greater range.
