Chinese smartphone firm Xiaomi has entered the competitive SUV segment with its new YU7 which is packed with technology.
It has a range of 835 kilometers and can accelerate to the speed of a hypercar in 3.23 seconds. The YU7 SUV from Xiaomi, the company’s most recent electric vehicle, has a significant improvement in both performance and range.
Following on from the SU7 saloon, the new YU7 has been designed to take on the likes of the Tesla Model Y and Kia EV6.
Equipped with a 96kWh battery, the YU7 has a claimed electric range of up to 835 kilometers – though those figures come from the China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle, which is less stringent than the WLTP testing process.
As standard, the YU7 comes with a single motor on the rear axle which develops 320bhp, while high-performance Pro and Max models upgrade this to a dual-motor setup with 496bhp and 690bhp, respectively. That most powerful version can manage the 0-60mph sprint in under 3.2 seconds, too.
Analysts have touted the YU7 as a challenger to Tesla’s, opens new tab high-quality-selling Model Y in China, the world’s largest automobile market, and Xiaomi had disappointed fans last month by not showcasing the automobile at the Shanghai Auto Show.
Read more: World’s fastest EV Xiaomi SU7 Ultra reaches 0-100 km/h in 1.98 seconds
Xiaomi started producing electric cars last year with the debut of the SU7 sedan, marking a shift from its core enterprise of smartphones, home appliances, and smart devices. The SU7 has outsold Tesla’s Model 3 in China on a monthly basis since December, even though orders reportedly declined after a fatal accident concerning the car in March.
Further to its automobile efforts, Xiaomi is renewing its focus on custom chip improvement. Lei said the organization has invested 13.5 billion yuan ($1.87 billion) in developing the Xring O1 chip and plans to invest at least 50 billion yuan more in chip design over the next decade, starting in 2025.
Xiaomi entered chip development in 2014 and released its first mobile processor, the 28-nanometer Pengpai S1, in 2017. The chip debuted within the Xiaomi 5C smartphone. Following setbacks, the organization pivoted to simpler components, which include battery management and photograph processing chips. It resumed cellular chip development in 2021, the same year it started working on electric automobiles.
“Xiaomi has constantly had a chip dream because to become a super hard technology corporation, chips are a peak that should be climbed,” Lei said. “We can definitely pass all out.”
Key Specifications
• Performance as a whole: The YU7 Max model can accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in just 3.23 seconds, thanks to its dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup that generates 508 kW (approximately 680 horsepower).
• Variety: The YU7 Max surpasses the 719-kilometer range of the Tesla Model Y thanks to its 101.7-kWh NMC battery, which is larger than the China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC).
• Charging: The YU7 is a strong competitor in the electric vehicle market thanks to its lightning-fast charging capabilities, which can give up to 620 kilometers of range in just 15 minutes.
• Technology: Xiaomi’s supervised self-driving system, Xiaomi HAD, makes use of a sensor suite that includes 4D mmWave radars and roof-mounted LiDAR. The system is powered by a 700 TOPS-capable Nvidia AGX Thor-U chip.
• Inside: There is a 6.68-inch touchscreen for the rear passengers, a two-tone steering wheel with roller wheels and buttons, and upholstery made of Nappa leather. The front seats have a “zero-gravity” 123° recline mode and a 10-point massage feature. Rake can be adjusted by power on the rear seats up to 135 degrees.
Cost and Availability
Lei Jun, CEO of Xiaomi, mentioned that the YU7 is likely priced 60,000–70,000 yuan higher than the Tesla Model Y, which starts at 263,500 yuan (approximately $36,574). However, Xiaomi has not yet revealed the official price of the device. It is anticipated that sales will begin in July 2025. The YU7 SUV outperforms established competitors like Tesla in the electric vehicle market thanks to its high performance, extended range, and advanced technology.
“The YU7 is just the latest indication that Chinese technology companies are pushing the limits of EV performance and cost.” China may have already won the EV battle,” the Morgan Stanley analysts wrote. They added that the SU7 and the YU7 were years ahead of Ford’s similar models. Even though every Xiaomi vehicle is only available in China, that may not last long. Xiaomi said in March that it aimed to promote EVs in overseas markets by 2027.