While Xiaomi is widely recognized for its smartphones, the Chinese tech company is swiftly making its mark in the electric vehicle sector, following the successful release of its inaugural EV, the SU7 sedan, which debuted late last year.
Currently, Xiaomi is developing a second model, a compact SUV known as the YU7. On Monday, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun took to social media to unveil the first official images of the YU7, after the vehicle made an appearance on the China Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s website.
Lei confirmed that the YU7 is set to launch in China around mid-2025, positioning it against competitors like the Tesla Model Y and other compact electric SUVs.
The YU7 showcases design elements consistent with the SU7, and from certain perspectives, it bears a resemblance to Ferrari’s Purosangue SUV. Both models exhibit a similar contour in the hood, straight daytime running lights that divide the headlights, and black-finished wheel arch protection.
Details regarding the technical specifications are not yet disclosed, but it is expected that the YU7 will share a connection with the SU7, which offers models producing 295 and 664 hp, with an anticipated variant reaching up to 1,527 hp. The current battery options for the SU7 include 73.6-kwh and 94.3-kwh units, and Xiaomi has announced plans to introduce 132-kwh and 150-kwh batteries by 2025.
The SU7 has garnered praise from Ford CEO Jim Farley, who had one sent to the U.S. for evaluation. During an October interview on the Everything Electric Show, he expressed a strong desire to keep the vehicle.
Additionally, the SU7 has achieved remarkable success in China, with Xiaomi recording over 100,000 sales in the current year, aided by a competitive starting price of around $30,000. In October, the company also unveiled an experimental version of the SU7 that completed a lap at the Nürburgring in 6:46.874, marking the fastest time for a four-door vehicle, irrespective of its powertrain.
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