Chinese electronics giant Xiaomi has unveiled its second electric vehicle (EV), the YU7 SUV, which the company says is poised to compete directly with Tesla’s Model Y in China’s growing mid to large-size electric SUV segment.
The YU7 was introduced at a product launch event on Thursday and follows the debut of Xiaomi’s SU7 electric sedan earlier this year. The YU7 is a five-seater SUV, measuring 4,999 mm in length with a 3,000 mm wheelbase, giving it a larger footprint than Tesla’s China-built Model Y. Three variants of the YU7 — Standard, Pro, and Max — will be offered, although pricing has not yet been disclosed.
Lei Jun, Xiaomi’s founder and CEO, drew direct comparisons between the YU7 and the Model Y, noting that the YU7 delivers stronger specifications in key performance areas, especially range and acceleration. “The YU7 has the highest range among mid to large-size SUVs,” Lei said during the event. “It’s the first thing consumers should consider when buying an EV.”
The YU7 Standard model features a single-motor rear-wheel drive with 320 Ps and a 0–100 km/h time of 5.88 seconds. The Pro and Max models are dual-motor, delivering 496 Ps and 690 Ps respectively, with the Max capable of accelerating to 100 km/h in just 3.23 seconds. In comparison, Tesla’s Model Y offers 0–100 km/h acceleration times of 5.9 seconds and 4.3 seconds depending on the variant.
Battery range appears to be a focal point for Xiaomi’s pitch. The YU7’s battery configurations, including a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) pack for Standard and Pro and a ternary lithium pack for the Max variant, offer CLTC ranges between 760 km and 835 km — all notably longer than the Model Y’s 593 km to 719 km range.
The YU7 also incorporates advanced technology features such as the Nvidia Thor smart driving chip with 700 TOPS of computing power, and air suspension for enhanced ride comfort. It runs on an 800-volt architecture allowing a 620 km range to be added with just 15 minutes of charging, compared to the Model Y’s 27-minute window for charging from 10% to 80%, according to Lei.
Xiaomi’s rapid entry into the EV space appears to be gaining momentum. Since its launch in March, the SU7 sedan has sold over 258,000 units, helping Xiaomi achieve an 8th-place global ranking in battery EV sales in the first quarter, with a 2.8% market share, according to TrendForce. Remarkably, it was the only automaker in the top ten with a single model offering at the time.
Xiaomi plans to begin deliveries of the YU7 in July. The SUV marks a significant expansion of the company’s EV strategy, aimed at consolidating its position among China’s increasingly competitive new energy vehicle manufacturers.