Xiaomi SU7 EV Guns for Tesla with Lower Price and Long Range

In a move reminscent of its earlier foray into the smartphone market, Chinese consumer electronics maker Xiaomi is shifting gears and heading down the electric vehicle (EV) route. The brand has taken its disruptive affordable high-tech approach to the auto world, directly challenging Tesla’s market dominance with its debut electric car in China, the SU7 – a sporty, high-tech “full-size high-performance eco-technology sedan”. Boasting a suite of competitive features and undercutting the price of Tesla’s Model 3, the SU7 has the potential to shake things up for the world’s leading EV maker.

Announced just last week by Xiaomi CEO and founder Lei Jun during a two-hour event, the new SU7 starts at 215,900 yuan (or AUD$46,666), undercutting the Tesla Model 3 in China, which starts at 245,900 yuan (or AUD$53,151) for the base version. Xiaomi’s new EV also comes in two other variants, the Pro and Max versions, priced at 245,900 yuan (or around AUD $53,151) and 299,900 yuan (or around AUD$64,823) respectively.

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“Xiaomi wants to build a ‘dream car’ comparable to Porsche and Tesla,” Lei said on Weibo. “If we want to build good cars, we must seriously learn from these two best car manufacturers in the world.” Xiaomi’s highly anticipated SU7 EV comes with a silhouette reminiscent of the Porsche Taycan EV, offering a comparable four-door configuration and a generous 3,000-millimetre wheelbase for ample interior space. Standard 19-inch Michelin alloy wheels are equipped in all variants and the overall car measures 4,997 millimetres in length, 1,963 millimetres in width, and upto 1,455 millimetres in height.

Xiaomi has yet to disclose comprehensive specifications, but the company suggests the SU7 will be competitive with industry leaders in terms of motor performance, autonomous driving software capabilities, and battery management systems. The top-end Xiaomi SU7 Max variant is claimed to achieve a top speed of 265 km/h and can reach 0-100 km/h in just 2.78 seconds. Furthermore, the company claims a minimum range of 503 miles (or 810 km) on a single charge for the Max (the standard being 435 miles), beating the Tesla Model 3’s 372-mile range.

Chinese electronics giant Xiaomi has partnered with BYD and Contemporary Amperex Technologies (CATL) on its battery technology, offering two battery options for their new SU7. The base model gets a 73.6 kWh battery, while the top-of-the-line variant boasts a larger 101 kWh pack. Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun even claimed that the standard SU7 outperforms Tesla’s Model 3 in over 90 per cent of specifications. However, he admitted that there still are two areas where Xiaomi lags behind Tesla, and it might take them three to five years to catch up.

Acknowledging the challenges of transitioning from consumer electronics to car manufacturing, Lei stated, “In the three years of developing this car, my biggest realisation is that making cars is extremely difficult. Even a giant like Apple gave up on it. So today, every person who is still persevering in making cars is a hero of our time.”

The company also plans to introduce a larger 150 kWh battery pack sometime next year, promising a driving range of up to 745 miles or 1,200 km. The SU7 supports fast charging thanks to its 486V and 871V architectures, enabling a range of up to 350 km on the base model and 510 km on the top-end Max model with just a 15-minute charge, respectively. The car also has Xiaomi’s self-developed HyperOS operating system that connects to users’ other devices like smartphones and also offers Apple CarPlay and iPad connectivity.

The Xiaomi SU7 is slated to go on sale in 211 stores across 39 Chinese cities by the end of this year. It has already received a resounding welcome domestically, garnering a whopping 88,898 pre-orders in just 24 hours since its announcement. With this ambitious new electric sedan, the Chinese automaker looks to compete with established global brands, intensifying the EV race like never before.

That’s not all though. The company also plans to launch a Limited Founders Edition of the SU7, but no pricing details were revealed. The limited Founders Edition will come fitted with a dual-motor, four-wheel-drive powertrain, and claims to reach nearly 986 horsepower of power and just 1.98 seconds from 0-100 km/h. In a tweet, Lei, while revealing the Founders Edition of the SU7, said, “This special model boasts a unique metal signature that adorns both the exterior and interior. For an added touch of exclusivity, it features a numbered nameplate fixed onto the steering wheel and carbon fibre rearview mirrors.”

Xiaomi SU7 vs Tesla Model 3 Comparison