Xiaomi

Xiaomi Auto may take over BAIC BJEV's production site in Qingdao, Shandong province in eastern China, a local media report said.

The partnership could see vehicles built by BAIC and co-branded with Xiaomi, according to Bloomberg.

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 will invest RMB 3.3 billion in R&D for the first phase of its self-driving project and will deploy 140 test vehicles.

Xiaomi has been discussing car-building permits with regulators for months, but without success, Bloomberg said.

Xiaomi Auto will see simulation prototypes in September, followed by on-field and winter tests as scheduled, according to local media.

Zhou Xing, formerly vice president of the sales arm of SAIC-GM-Wuling, will join Xiaomi Auto as head of marketing in August.

It's not clear if Xiaomi intends to enter the pickup truck market in the future. China is currently easing restrictions on the movement of such vehicles in urban areas.

At a public event in August, Xiaomi founder Lei Jun will have an engineering prototype of the company's first model unveiled, according to local media.

A blue vehicle with the words "Xiaomi Pilot Test" on its body has been spotted on the street, giving Xiaomi's car-making progress a lot of attention.