Xiaomi launches first electric car model, heating up the global electric car race

After smartphones and home ecosystem products, Xiaomi has now entered the world of electric cars with the Xiaomi SU7. The “Apple of China” has long expressed its intention to build a smart car equipped with the latest technology that can compete with the world’s auto giants.

According to Reuters, the sedan named SU7 is a highly anticipated model, expected to take full advantage of the operating system shared with the company's popular phones. According to the official photos released this time, the exterior of the SU7 is slightly different from the previously revealed images, the color is not silver gray but blue.

At the launch event in Beijing, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun said Xiaomi's autonomous driving capabilities will lead the electric vehicle industry.

Mr. Lei Jun once said that Xiaomi intended the SU7 to compete with Porsche's Taycan Turbo in terms of performance and Tesla's Model S in terms of technological features.

Xiaomi-branded cars will be manufactured by a unit of state-owned auto giant BAIC Group at a factory in Beijing with an annual capacity of 200,000 vehicles.

Xiaomi has received approval from China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) to manufacture electric vehicles (EVs). The agency is responsible for regulating investment and production capacity in China's auto industry. Xiaomi has also committed to investing $10 billion in the EV sector over a decade.

Like a number of other tech companies, Xiaomi is looking to diversify its core business into electric vehicles — a plan it first announced in 2021.

But the car's launch comes at a time when the world's largest auto market is struggling with overcapacity and slowing demand that has sparked a fierce price war.

These difficulties have not deterred Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun from outlining grand ambitions that include building “a car that everyone wants, comparable to Porsche and Tesla.”

According to August Man, the front of the Xiaomi SU7 bears a striking resemblance to the McLaren 765LT supercar, especially with its teardrop-shaped headlights and slim aerodynamic nose. The side profile appears to be inspired by the Tesla Model 3, while the rear end has a classic Aston Martin Vantage feel.

“By working hard in the next 15 to 20 years, we will become one of the world's top five automakers, striving to elevate China's overall auto industry,” said Lei at the car launch event.

Currently, the Tesla Model 3 has established itself as a feature-rich, mid-range electric sedan in most developed and developing countries.

With its equally capable equipment and modern technology combined with a powerful electric powertrain, the Xiaomi SU7 could present itself as a compelling alternative to the established dominance of the Model 3 and other EV sedans from Chinese brands.

What remains to be seen, however, is whether Xiaomi can convince electric car buyers to ditch Tesla's vastly superior and widely available Supercharger network.