It’s always been said that Xiaomi products offer the best value for money. And looking at the phones and other gadgets they sell each year, it’s hard to argue otherwise. But the electric car market was foreign to them… until now. After years of rumors, here we have Xiaomi’s first EV.
As we read in the specialized outlet CarNewsChina, Xiaomi has applied for a sales license for its first electric vehicle in China: the Xiaomi SU7 sedan.
The outlet has disclosed some specifications of the vehicle, which will be manufactured by Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co. Ltd (BAIC), not Xiaomi. You might recall this car by its codename: MS11.
In China, all cars must be approved by the local regulator before hitting the market, and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) publishes a monthly list of vehicles that have undergone the homologation process.
Automobile manufacturers aren’t fond of this as it reveals photos and specifications of cars they haven’t yet launched. But for the press, it’s a valuable resource that’s highly appreciated.
Features of the anticipated Xiaomi car
The Xiaomi SU7 is an electric sedan with dimensions of 4997/1963/1455 mm and a wheelbase of 3000 mm. It will have two wheel options, 19″ and 20″. Xiaomi showcased two versions: one with lidar and one without lidar. The lidar is installed behind the front windshield.
We see a camera on the B-pillar in the images, suggesting that the Xiaomi SU7 might come with a facial recognition unlock feature.
The powertrain offers two options: the RWD with a 220 kW motor and the AWD with a maximum power of 495 kW (220 kW + 275 kW). The LFP battery pack comes from BYD for the cheaper trim, and the NMC ternary from CATL for a more expensive option.
The empty weight is 1,980 kg for the base model, with a top speed limited to 210 km/h. The higher-end model’s empty weight is 2,205 kg, and it can reach a maximum speed of 265 km/h.
According to MIIT filings, there are three versions: SU7, SU7 Pro, and SU7 Max. Some trims will feature an active rear spoiler.
The electric motor model is TZ220XS000, manufactured by United Automotive Electronics Co., Ltd. It will also include the ETC function, a system that enables drivers to automatically pay highway tolls without stopping the car.
The integrated system in the SU7 car will run on Xiaomi’s HyperOS, an internally developed operating system capable of functioning with both smartphones and cars.
The electric 4-door, 5-seater SU7 will begin serial production in December 2023, with deliveries starting in February 2024. BAIC’s factory in Beijing has already initiated trial production, and dozens of test vehicles have rolled off the production line.
Xiaomi announced its entry into the electric vehicle manufacturing race two and a half years ago, in March 2021, stating it would invest 10 billion yuan (1.4 billion dollars) in the project. In August 2023, Xiaomi registered the domain XiaomiEV.com.
