Xiaomi Auto's first car will offer two spec options, with the lower model using BYD batteries and the higher model using CATL's batteries, according to local media.
Xiaomi Auto, smartphone giant Xiaomi's automotive arm, has chosen CATL and BYD as its battery suppliers, local media outlet 36kr reported today.
Xiaomi Auto's first car will offer two specification options, with a 400V voltage platform planned for the lower-trim version and an 800V voltage platform for the higher-trim model, according to the report.
Accordingly, the lower model will feature BYD's battery division FinDreams Battery's lithium iron phosphate chemistry-based Blade Battery, while the higher model will feature CATL's latest Qilin Battery and use the ternary chemistry, according to the report.
Xiaomi officially announced in March 2021 that it was joining the car-making ranks, and in October last year, its chairman Lei Jun said Xiaomi's first vehicle is expected to be officially mass-produced in the first half of 2024.
Blade Battery is a key BYD product that entered Tesla's supply chain, the report noted.
Qilin Battery is CATL's third-generation CTP (cell to pack) module-less battery pack technology launched in June, with a volume utilization rate exceeding 72 percent, which can increase the energy density of ternary battery packs to 255Wh/kg.
The pack supports 4C charging multiplier and can provide up to a 1,000km range.
After CATL's new battery was announced, car brands including Li Auto, Neta, and Lotus said they would use Qilin Battery.
However, CATL's Qilin Battery for Xiaomi Auto may be different from the normal one and is known as "Golden Qilin" within the battery maker, the report said, adding that Xiaomi may have customized the battery in aspects including charging multiplier and thermal management.
In addition to Qilin Battery, Xiaomi Auto has also customized the battery significantly in its partnership with FinDreams, according to 36kr.
CATL and BYD are the two largest power battery manufacturers in China, with the former continuing to rank first in July with a 47.19 percent share and BYD second with a 25.23 percent share, according to data released earlier this month by the China Automotive Battery Innovation Alliance.
In addition to identifying power battery suppliers, Xiaomi Auto has also decided on partners for another core component - the intelligent driving computing platform.
Xiaomi Auto will use Nvidia's Orin chip in the high-end version of the first model, with Huizhou Desay SV Auto providing the domain controller, according to 36kr.
On the lower trim version, Xiaomi Auto will use Continental AG's domain controllers.
It was previously reported that Continental would use Journey 3 chips from Chinese self-driving chip maker Horizon Robotics in its offering to Xiaomi.
But unnamed Xiaomi sources cited by 36kr said the company has not yet determined whether it will use Horizon Robotics' chips.
Nio said to be evaluating Horizon Robotics' chip for use in sub-brand models
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