‘Apple of China’’s Xiaomi Takes On Hoverboard Market With Self-Balancing Scooter

Beijing-based company Xiaomi seems eager to establish itself as an industry leader in mobility devices with its recent debut of a self-balancing scooter. Techcrunch reports that the new device, which is called the Ninebot mini, allows users to steer via detection in the rider’s legs or through a complementary app.

According to Xiaomi, the 12.8-kilogram Ninebot mini, on a single charge, can allow its rider to travel 22 kilometers at a top speed of 16 kilometers per hour. Moreover, Xiaomi’s new “hoverboard” can support riders weighing up to 85 kilograms.

Venture Beat said the scooter, which is currently on retail for USD314, was a product of Xiaomi’s smart investment in transportation robotics startup Ninebot Inc. Ninebot coincidentally bought its US counterpart Segway in 2014, so it made sense for Xiaomi to bank on its strength in being able to produce a cheaper, but formidable alternative to other self-balancing scooters in mainland China.