Chinese tech giant Xiaomi announced it will start selling its new electric SUV, the YU7, in July. The company’s founder and CEO, Lei Jun, revealed the launch date during an event in Beijing on May 22. Analysts say the YU7 will be Xiaomi’s strongest competitor to Tesla’s popular Model Y in China.
The YU7 offers an impressive driving range of up to 835 kilometers (519 miles) per charge. This beats the redesigned Tesla Model Y, which has a range of up to 719 kilometers. However, Lei Jun said the YU7 will be priced higher than the Model Y, by about 60,000 to 70,000 yuan ($8,300 to $9,700). Xiaomi will share exact pricing details in July.
Xiaomi entered the electric vehicle market last year with its first EV, the sporty SU7. The SU7, inspired by Porsche’s design and priced below Tesla’s Model 3, has sold more units monthly than Tesla’s Model 3 in China since December. Lei Jun said Xiaomi has delivered over 258,000 SU7 vehicles since its launch.
Despite this success, Xiaomi has faced challenges. In late March, a fatal crash involving an SU7 on highway in driving-assistance mode raised safety concerns. Additionally, Xiaomi received customer complaints about false advertising and apologized for unclear marketing.
Alongside the YU7 launch, Xiaomi also introduced a new self-developed chip, the Xring T1. The company recently unveiled the Xring O1 mobile chip, which Lei Jun claimed matches Apple’s best A18 processor in performance.
Xiaomi continues to push its presence in both technology and automotive sectors, aiming to expand its footprint in China’s growing electric vehicle market.
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