On Xiaomi’s 15th anniversary, CEO Lei Jun introduced the company’s first electric SUV, the YU7, marking another step in its automotive transition following the SU7 sedan. Lei confirmed that Xiaomi has delivered over 258,000 units of the SU7.
The YU7 is a fairly large electric SUV built on the company’s Modena platform. It measures 4999 mm in length, 1996 mm in width, and 1608 mm in height, with a 3000 mm wheelbase. We already announced it at the end of last year.
Three powertrains
In terms of powertrains, the YU7 will be offered in three configurations: the YU7 RWD, with a single 235 kW rear motor, 528 Nm, 0–100 kph in 5.9 seconds, top speed 240 kph. Secondly, the YU7 Pro AWD with dual motors and a 365 kW combined output, 690 Nm, 0–100 kph in 4.3 seconds, top speed 240 kph. And finally, the YU7 Max AWD, which also has two motors developing 508 kW and 866 Nm, 0–100 kph in 3.2 seconds, top speed 253 kph.
United Automotive Electronics (UAES) supplies the motors, with the Max version using a 220 kW front and 295 kW rear motor. All variants run on Xiaomi’s 800V silicon carbide high-voltage platform and use V6s Plus motors, enabling charging speeds that can add up to 620 km of range in 15 minutes.
The following are the battery configurations and (optimistic) CLTC range estimates. The RWD has a 96.3 kWh LFP battery, delivering 835 km of range. The Pro AWD has the same battery, providing a 770 km CLTC range. The Max AWD, on the contrary, has a 101.7 kWh NCM battery, providing a 760 km range.
Safety focused
On the safety side, the vehicle structure includes a 2200 MPa ultra-high-strength steel integrated roll cage developed in collaboration with academic partners, a 20-in-1 aluminium die-cast front frame, and a steel-aluminium hybrid body referred to as an ‘armour cage’. The battery pack features a reinforced shell with a bullet-resistant coating. Xiaomi reports that over 50 passive safety tests have been conducted. The A—and B-pillars have also been structurally enhanced.
All YU7 variants include Lidar sensors and Nvidia Drive AGX Thor, paired with 4D mmWave radar and ALD-coated anti-glare cameras. Xiaomi developed its own end-to-end assisted driving system in-house, marking a key part of its automotive development strategy.
The YU7 was initially planned to debut at the Shanghai Auto Show in April, but was delayed after a fatal incident involving one of Xiaomi’s autonomous test vehicles. Internal reviews of safety protocols and public communications followed the postponement.
Software defined
The Xiaomi YU7 SUV adopts inward-folding electric door handles with ambient lighting and UWB (Ultra Wideband) support for smartphone-based keyless entry and trunk access. Inside, the cabin is fully leather-lined, featuring ‘zero gravity’ seats in front, offering a 123° recline and 10-point massage functions. Rear passengers benefit from 135° electrically adjustable seats and a 6.7-inch touch control screen for climate, music, and navigation functions.
The dashboard features a 1.1-meter-wide ‘HyperVision’ layout comprising three mini LED screens. The system integrates driving data, media, blind-spot imaging, and customizable widgets. The car includes a 4-in-1 domain controller that merges cabin, assisted driving, vehicle control, and communications systems. A Snapdragon chip for fast boot-up supports it in 1.35 seconds and over-the-air updates in as little as 15 minutes.
Tesla in the crosshairs
It’s not entirely clear when or if Xiaomi will actually export the SU7 and YU7 to foreign markets, but that doesn’t matter quite yet. The brand has already proven itself to be a reckoning force in a hyper-crowded EV market like China. The SU7 sedan consistently ranks in China’s top five new car sales.
As mentioned, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun said at the launch of the YU7 that the brand has delivered a whopping 258,000 cars since the SU7 sedan was introduced a little over a year ago. That’s no mean feat, especially in a world where buyers overwhelmingly prefer crossovers over sedans. The YU7 is poised to hurt the whole EV market.
Especially Tesla. The Model Y refresh isn’t resonating all that strongly across the globe. Elon Musk’s controversial statements and political actions, and the whole “sell your Tesla” movement, have significantly damaged that brand’s standing.
The YU7 looks to take everything people like about the SU7 sedan and port it into a form factor that has more appeal to the general public. If the YU7 sells as strongly as the SU7 sedan, and there’s no reason it won’t, then Tesla will have a big issue fighting back against that. Tesla certainly won’t be able to do it with the low-effort facelifted Model 3 and Model Y.
Xiaomi hasn’t released any pricing for the YU7 yet, but it is expected to be within a stone’s throw of the China-spec Tesla Model Y, which starts at around €32,500. The car will probably arrive on the Chinese market in a few months.
