Another week, another week China’s electric vehicles are poised to provide extinction events to Western carmakers.
This time it’s Xiaomi, Beijing-based high-tech company best known for its smartphones and the company behind Porsche Teikan Bait SU7.
Xiaomi is back, but this time there is an electric SUV on the sleeves. Similar to the Lovechild of Ferrari Purosangue and Aston Martin DBX707, it explains patchy phone lines, which will hit all the benchmarks you’d expect from an EV in 2025.
From the Yu7 standard, there are three models that lean towards the nomenclature of smartphones led by Yu7 Max via a 235 kW single motor vehicle, 5.88 seconds from 0-62 mph, a more powerful dual-motor Yu7 Pro. This model has 508 kW of power 38 kW more than the electric Porsche Macan Turbo, and a 3.23 seconds of 0-62 mph supercar-like time.
Using China’s somewhat generous CLTC test cycle, the range ranges from up to 472 miles to less powerful standards to 518 miles. Xiaomi claims that the car’s 800 volt electric architecture can provide just 10-80% charging time of just 12ths or add a 385-mile range in 15 minutes.
All are very impressive, especially when you consider the market price in China. Yu7 starts at 253,500 yuan. That’s about $35,000 in the US. This was back to $40,000 at the exact price that was temporarily achieved with the first generation model 3 in early 2019. The Xiaomi Yu7 Pro and Max versions cost 279,900 yuan ($39,000) and 329,900 yuan ($46,000) respectively, while the Tesla Model Y starts at 263,500 yuan ($36,500).
Meanwhile, Tesla has missed its own deadline to produce more affordable cars. Despite the so-called Model 2 being made into canned food, The company said Early 2025: “Planning for new vehicles, including more affordable models, is on track for production to begin in early 2025.” We are interested in July now and are still waiting.
