Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi plans to hire 20 engineers for autonomous driving, to work in Beijing's Haidian district, according to posts on its official website.

The new hires mark an important move after the company formally announced plans to make electric vehicles in March.

Xiaomi, one of the world's biggest smartphone makers, planned to invest $10 billion over the next 10 years, with a first-phase investment of 10 billion yuan. Xiaomi founder and CEO Lei Jun revealed that the company will launch its first electric vehicle equipped with Level 3 autonomous driving in three years.

According to Xiaomi's website, the recruitment covers personnel familiar with hardware and software, and focuses on data platforms, car infrastructure, millimeter wave algorithms, web platform R&D, imbedded software, high definition maps, sensors, and ultrasonic radar algorithms.

Xiaomi has its own advantages in making electric vehicles, Lei earlier said in an internal letter. The company has deep insights into the service modes of hardware-based internet, abundant experience in the integration of hardware and software, an actively connected and mature ecosystem, ample cash reserves, as well as strong support from Mi fans, 21st Century Business Herald reported.

On June 8, Lei visited the R&D center of Baoding-based Great Wall, China's biggest pickup truck maker. Though both companies didn't reveal more details, the move has sparked speculation that they would cooperate to make EVs.

Chinese automakers and tech companies are working closer together to develop smarter vehicles with technology such as autonomous driving.

Statistics showed as of 2020, Xiaomi had more than 800 auto-related patents, focusing on wireless communication networks, electrical digital data processing, digital information transmissions and traffic control systems. However, compared with Baidu, Huawei, Nio, Li Auto and Xpeng, there is still a big gap in the number of patents, China Securities Journal said.