Xiaomi's venture into EVs is a rough road, but it might have what it takes to succeed

Xiaomi's consumers and startups within its ecosystem have long been the backbone of its success, but could they also be the solution to its dream to make EVs?. Wang Libo's apartment in Shanghai is filled with Xiaomi products: an air conditioner, a humidifier, a space heater, a lamp, among other things. "I don't see myself as an avid fan, but I really appreciate Mi Home products. If I use my heater in the winter, I can set it up to automatically turn off at 8:00 a.m. every morning," said the 25-year-old Shanghai-based tech blogger, referring to Xiaomi's smart home brand launched in 2016. He was not surprised to hear about Xiaomi's plans to make cars, but questions whether Xiaomi has what it takes since it has primarily focused on consumer electronics.