Xiaomi SU7 launched: Will the EV make it outside of China?

Under the hood, it packs a serious punch with dual-motor options delivering up to a whopping 986 horsepower in the limited Founder’s Edition. This variant accelerates from 0-100 kmph in 1.98 seconds. Meanwhile, the top-tier Max variant can sprint from 0-100 kmph in just 2.78 seconds and reach a top speed of 265 kmph.

#XiaomiSU7 Max lets you drive back onto the road with an incredible 510 kilometers of range in just 15 minutes of charging.

Even the standard SU7 isn't far behind, offering a 350-kilometer range boost in the same timeframe. #XiaomiEVLaunch #DrivingForward pic.twitter.com/9XkDfBKazH

— Xiaomi (@Xiaomi) March 28, 2024

Battery choices range from a 73.6 kWh pack in the base model to a massive 150 kWh pack planned for next year, promising ranges up to an incredible 1,200 km on a single charge. Thanks to Xiaomi’s advanced 486V and 871V charging architectures, the SU7 can gain 350-510 km of range in just 15 minutes of juice-up time.

The SU7’s cockpit features a stunning 16.1-inch 3K central display. (Image: Xiaomi)

On the inside, the SU7’s cockpit features a stunning 16.1-inch 3K central display and a 7.1-inch digital instrument cluster powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8295 chip. It supports wireless Apple CarPlay, iPad connectivity, and Xiaomi’s new HyperOS ecosystem for seamless integration with other Xiaomi smart devices.

How it stacks up against the Tesla Model 3

The obvious rivalry is with Tesla’s bestselling Model 3 sedan. According to Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun, the base SU7 bests the Model 3 in over 90% of specs except for a couple of areas Tesla still has an edge in. The SU7’s minimum 700 km range also trumps the Model 3’s 606 km.

Like the Model 3, the SU7 also offers some autonomous driving capabilities, although they’re more limited. (Image: Xiaomi)

But the biggest differentiator is pricing. While the Model 3 starts at 245,900 Yuan (~$34,000) in China, the base SU7 undercuts it at 215,900 Yuan (~$30,000) – a price Lei admits means selling each unit at a loss initially.

The Apple Car that could have been

While Xiaomi makes no direct mention of Apple, the SU7 provides an intriguing glimpse of what Apple’s much-rumored “Project Titan” vehicle could have been like. With deep software-hardware integration and seamless device connectivity via HyperOS, the SU7 cockpit illustrates the kind of unified ecosystem experience Apple would have likely pursued.

The SU7 adopts a “Human x Car x Home” approach, aiming to create a network of devices integrated with its latest HyperOS operating system. (Image: Xiaomi)

Fair to say, Xiaomi’s approach serves as a reminder of the massive opportunity Apple left on the table by backing out of making its own branded vehicle.

China’s EV market is locked in a price war

The SU7 lands amidst an increasingly cutthroat battlefield that is China’s electric car market. After years of explosive growth fueled by government incentives, sales have cooled as consumer spending tightens in the post-pandemic economy. Automakers are slashing prices and introducing new aggressively-priced models to stay competitive, in some cases drastically diminishing the resale values of recently purchased EVs.

Several upstart EV brands have already gone bankrupt, leaving customers stranded without after-sales support. As an example, WM Motor, an emerging Chinese EV manufacturer, filed for bankruptcy in October 2023.

The Weltmeister W5. (Image: WM Motor)

Xiaomi is also not the sole smartphone brand looking to make a dent in the market – Huawei has also muscled into the auto space by partnering with traditional carmakers on co-branded electric models.

The competition is so cutthroat that Xiaomi’s CEO acknowledged the company is willing to initially book losses on each SU7 sold.

Will the Xiaomi SU7 launch outside of China?

For now, the SU7 remains a China-exclusive product as Xiaomi gauges demand in its home market. Orders crossed 50,000 within just 27 minutes of the online sales launch. Xiaomi’s CEO revealed the company’s sophisticated EV factory can pump out a new SU7 every 76 seconds when running at full tilt.

Xiaomi EV factory sets standards for sustainability.

Our EV factory boasts a solar roof generating 16.4M kWh of clean energy annually and 99% efficiency in exhaust gas treatment. #XiaomiEVLaunch #DrivingForward pic.twitter.com/jFtTadvM0Z

— Xiaomi (@Xiaomi) March 28, 2024

While an international launch timeline is still unclear, Xiaomi has global ambitions judging by showcases like December’s “Stride” unveiling event in Barcelona. An international event such as this suggests Xiaomi’s ambition to compete globally in the EV space, challenging established players like Tesla.

We are definitely looking forward to when the SU7 goes international, as its aggressive pricing could allow it to seriously undercut competitors.