Xiaomi Branches Out Into Scooters, Smart TVs and Trolleys
China’s Xiaomi has launched a smartphone-controlled scooter, co-developed with Beijing-based robotics engineering company Ninebot – the same company that acquired American rival Segway this past April, then received $80 million in investment from Sequoia Capital and Xiaomi.
The investment by Xiaomi is in line with its strategy of backing companies that make products outside of its own in-house, well-known creations including smartphones, TVs and tablets. This week’s new scooter is Ninebot’s first product, and Xiaomi’s first foray into personal mobility.
Called the Ninebot Mini, the 12.8kg scooter, or “hoverboard,” looks the Segway and it uses a knee-high stick that detects the rider’s leg movements for steering. Ninebot claims the device can travel 22 km on a single charge, reach speeds of up to 16 km/hour, and go up 15 degree slopes. The bot comes with a smartphone app that allows users to control it remotely, view a speedometer, and see how much charge is left. The product’s biggest selling point could be its price: at $316, it is a quarter the cost of other self-balancing scooters in China, and a fraction that of the cheapest Segway, which retails for more than $6000.
Xiaomi will open sales in China November 3, with no plans for a wider launch. The scooter is part of the smartphone giant’s plan to build out a diverse ecosystem of consumer hardware. Xiaomi also is adding a new smart TV, the $800 Mi TV 3, to its product lineup. One month ago, Xiaomi launched the Mi Trolley, its first luggage offering.
