Xiaomi, a smartphone maker in China, has announced its entry into the electric vehicle market with the upcoming SU7 electric sedan. Production on the new car could begin as early as mid-2024.
Previously, Xiaomi has made an electric bicycle, a robotic dog, and many other consumer goods. The pre-launch event for the SU7 full-size, high-performance “eco-technology” sedan carries the company’s hopes of being one of the world’s largest automakers. The battery pack for the car was also developed in-house, with a purported size of 150 kWh and range of 745 miles per charge.
Initial research and development of the SU7 has been in the area of $1.4B, including Xiaomi’s electric vehicle motors. The company claims a 0-62 mph sprint time of 2.78 seconds for the SU7 and a top speed of 165 mph. Confusing reports of a V6 and V8 version are also given, though these appear to be referring to performance equivalents rather than combustion engine plans.
Xiaomi is also planning on future-proofing the car with LiDAR and other techs to provide semi- and fully-autonomous driving for the SU7. The company boasts software capable of object recognition to 10cm accuracy and camera/sensor noise reduction that removes rain and snow from sensing. Automated parking “allows for real-time observation and dynamic adjustment when parking in challenging scenarios,” the company says.
Pricing and other details have not been released. The Xiaomi SU7 will most likely be a luxury vehicle and will be sold exclusively in China. At least in the beginning. The company is targeting a 2025 model year release.
Aaron is an automotive journalist living in Wyoming, USA. His background includes technology, mechanics, commercial vehicles, and new vehicle evaluations. Aaron is a member of several automotive media groups and writes for many well-known publications.