Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi is nearing approval of a production permit for its electric vehicle plant, which has been under construction in Beijing since 2021 and is due for completion this June, Powerhouse reported on Tuesday, citing two people familiar with the matter. The Chinese central government has imposed strict rules on the release of manufacturing licenses for EVs in recent years, aiming to curb overcapacity issues in the sector. Xiaomi had faced challenges in securing the green light, and therefore briefly turned to state-owned automaker BAIC for collaboration on EV making, Bloomberg reported last August. Xiaomi did not respond to TechNode’s request for comment. [Powerhouse, in Chinese]