That was quick. Chinese tech maker Xiaomi intends to start shipping its new SU7 EV to market in China this month. It’s quite a speedy turnaround from the first serious discussions about the brand making its own electric vehicles in 2021, though it’s likely that plans were in the pipeline for longer than that.
Reuters reports that the announcement came via Weibo, the Chinese social media service. The company said that nearly 60 stores across 29 cities in China will take orders for the vehicle. A launch event is planned for 28 March, though the Speed Ultra 7 (SU7) has been extensively previewed in terms of specs already.
Xiaomi what you drive
The Chinese company hopes to replicate its smartphone success, which started in 2011 with the Mi 1 handset, with automobiles. Xiaomi head Lei Jun said on Weibo this week, “Xiaomi’s cars are going from zero to one in a very different growth stage and facing very different user expectations compared to when Xiaomi’s smartphones went from zero to one 14 years ago. Xiaomi’s cars need to be different, and the most important aspect is smart technology.”
The SU7 and its subsequent companions are entering a difficult market. Not only are EVs pricey but demand for them seems to be slowing as a result. Some brands, like Mercedes, have tweaked their production plans to continue making internal combustion engines for longer than was expected, suggesting that EVs aren’t a sure bet for everyone.
Xiaomi has faced these sorts of headwinds before, which may be why the company reckons it is on to a good thing with the launch of its own EV. And if you’re wondering how the company has jumped the queue in terms of vehicle production, a notoriously difficult endeavour, that would be because state-owned vehicle manufacturer BAIC is handling the actual production. Xiaomi is mostly sticking its smarts into a vehicle compatible with the smart ecosystem the company has been pushing of late.