Xiaomi enters the Segway game

There will come a time when we will ask ourselves what does Xiaomi not produce? This time the company’s introducing a US$315 Segway called the Ninebot mini. The company’s a major investor in Chinese company Ninebot, which recently purchased Segway. The Ninebot mini represents the first product since the acquisition. The self-balancing scooter looks rather similar to the original but it costs less than a twentieth of the original’s price.

It’s not exactly a toy either, even though it’s targeted towards the youth. It can move up to 16km/h, handle 15-degree hills, and run up to 22km on a single charge. At 12.8 kilograms, it’s portable. It can even fit into the trunk of your car, according to Xiaomi. Firmware of the scooter can be upgraded and it can monitor things like speed, traffic data, and systems via your smartphone. It’s coming to China on November 3^rd but there is no word about a wider launch. However, Ninebot updated its French website saying they will inform the public about availability, which means it could be hitting Europe soon and, hopefully, make its way here, too.

Source: Engadget