Xiaomi’s Electric Vehicle: Can It Really Outrun Porsche and Tesla?

Xiaomi, “Mistake of the Continent”
Soon to Launch Its First Electric Vehicle
SU7 to be Released on the 28th

Xiaomi, a Chinese electronics sales company, is known for selling cost-effective electronic products domestically. They have been dubbed the “Mistakes of the Continent” in a joke among netizens due to the good value unexpected from Xiaomi’s products. Xiaomi is currently boosting sales of auxiliary batteries and various smart electronic devices.

Xiaomi is challenging the field of electric cars this time. Xiaomi announced that it will officially launch its first electric vehicle, the SU7, on the 28th. The SU7 is contract-manufactured by Beijing Automotive Group Co., Ltd. (BAIC). Xiaomi is also known for improving quality through partnerships with other companies when developing products in different fields.

Promising Performance Surpassing Porsche
Can Drive 497 Miles on a Single Charge

Xiaomi is highlighting the outstanding acceleration of the SU7 through the Super E motor. The powertrain of the SU7 comes in single-motor and dual-motor specifications. The single motor delivers 300 horsepower, while the dual motor delivers 673 horsepower. Xiaomi has promised a performance that will surpass that of Porsche and Tesla.

The SU7 is equipped with a 101-kWh ternary battery pack from CATL, the world’s largest battery company, and can travel 497 miles on a single charge. It supports 800V high-voltage charging, and it is known that a maximum of 124 miles can be driven with just a 5-minute charge. The vehicle size is 196.5 inches long, 77.3 inches in width, 56.9 inches in height, and the wheelbase is 118.1 inches.

Mixed with Designs of Other Cars
Criticized for Imitative Design

The exterior design feels like a mix of designs from various premium car manufacturers. The side of the car has an aerodynamic design that curves from the front to the rear, reminiscent of the Porsche Taycan. The headlights are similar to those of McLaren, and the rear is similar to those of Hyundai’s Ioniq. There are positive reactions that the design is good as it has combined elements that have received positive evaluations, but there are also a few reactions that look like a knockoff. As China is famous for its knockoffs, netizens’ adverse reactions were stronger.

Meanwhile, Xiaomi is also preparing autonomous driving technology that surpasses Tesla’s Autopilot. According to a video released by Xiaomi earlier this year, it is known that the “Hyper OS,” an independent operating system, and an autonomous driving system have been installed. Xiaomi stated that the SU7 has various sensors and detection equipment, such as LiDAR and radar cameras, and supports Level 3 autonomous driving on highways and automatic parking. Much attention has been paid to how Xiaomi, which produces various electronic products, has applied its technology.

Price Over $62,000
Can It Catch Up With Model S and Porsche?

The exact price information for the SU7 was not revealed, but Lei Jun, the chairman of Xiaomi, mentioned that the SU7 would be over 400,000 yuan (about $62,000). He also stated that his company would make the expensive price feel reasonable by launching a luxury electric car that rivals the Tesla Model S and Porsche Taycan Turbo.

It is somewhat surprising that Xiaomi, famous for its cost-effectiveness, has chosen a premium strategy. The cheap mass-market electric car line is already closely chased by China’s BYD, which is recording high sales in the global market. Therefore, it is interpreted as a strategy to compete in the premium electric car market, where other Chinese electric car brands have not yet made a mark. It is attracting attention to whether Xiaomi can break away from the image of a Chinese brand and make a splash in the electric car market.