Xiaomi to launch YU7 electric SUV on May 22

Xiaomi is ready for the official unveiling of its first SUV, the Xiaomi The highly anticipated vehicle is set to debut this Thursday, May 22, at a special event kicking off at 7 PM Beijing time. This is a new chapter for Xiaomi EV that will enable it to better compete with established players, aiming at rivals like the Tesla Model Y.

The introduction of the YU7 follows the successful launch of Xiaomi's first electric car model, the SU7 sedan, last year. The SU7 hit the market on March 28, 2024, and was designed to compete with the likes of the Tesla Model 3. Xiaomi later expanded the SU7 lineup with the SU7 Ultra, a high-performance variant with an impressive 1,548 hp total output.

Despite being a newcomer, Xiaomi EV has shown impressive sales numbers with over 28,000 units delivered in April alone - seventh month in a row with deliveries surpassing the 20,000-unit mark. Clearly, there's a strong demand for Xiaomi's electric vehicles and the brand seems to be quickly building a loyal customer base.

Details about the YU7 first emerged last December when Xiaomi EV announced the vehicle's name and its intention to compete with the Tesla Model Y.At that time, regulatory filings provided a glimpse into the SUV's size. The YU7 is reported to measure 4,999 mm in length, 1,996 mm in width, and 1,600 mm in height, with a generous wheelbase of 3,000 mm. Comparing these figures to the updated Tesla Model Y, which is 4,790 mm long, 1,982 mm wide, and 1,624 mm tall with a 2,890 mm wheelbase, reveals the YU7 will be a larger SUV, with more interior space.

The journey hasn't been without its bumps for Xiaomi EV. In the last couple of months, the company faced public scrutiny following a tragic SU7 crash in late March that resulted in three fatalities. Reports of quality issues with the Xiaomi SU7 have surfaced on Chinese social media platforms. All these factors appear to have had some impact on recent sales figures. Data compiled for the week ending May 11 showed insurance registrations for Xiaomi EVs at 5,180 units, nearly 9% less than the previous week's 5,690 registrations, marking the third consecutive week of decline.

The upcoming launch event for the YU7 is also significant for Xiaomi as a whole. Apart from the new electric SUV, the company will unveil other new products, including its first mobile system-on-a-chip (SoC), the Xring O1, the Xiaomi 15S Pro smartphone, and the Xiaomi 7 Ultra tablet. This multi-product launch is part of Xiaomi's strategy of integrating its many technological ventures and leveraging its brand ecosystem.