Xiaomi YU7 Debuts: A Luxury SUV Challenger with 835 km Range

Lei Jun, CEO of Xiaomi, unveiled the YU7 pure-electric SUV at the May 22 strategic launch event finally. Lei Jun explained that the codename of YU7 means “Riding the Wind” in Chinese, in homage to “Free and Easy Wandering” written by the renowned ancient Chinese philosopher Zhuangzi.

Positioned as a premium high-performance SUV, YU7 features a sleek design. Measuring a 4,999 mm long and 1,996 mm wide, with a wheelbase of 3,000 mm, the mid-to-large SUV appears compact in the outlook but offers an ample interior space. Furthermore, the 180° ultra-wide-angle lighting make it special.

Tech Specs: Segment-Leading Range, Lidar Standard  

The YU7 has three variants available, YU7 RWD, YU7 Pro AWD, and YU7 Max AWD. Here are the basic configurations of each trim.

It is understood that:

- All versions of the YU7 offer ultra-long-range capabilities (with a range of 835km, the standard trim becomes the "number one in mid-large pure electric SUV range”).

- Standard features for all trims include: a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 cockpit SoC (generating 15-minute OTAs), 180-degree ultra-wide lighting, and Huawei AR-HUD.

- All trims are armed with 128-beam lidar for Xiaomi’s self-developed Pilot Ultra ADAS

- The MAX trim has the highest speed of 253km/h.

- The MAX trim will be equipped with BREMBO four-piston fixed calipers, continuously variable dampers, and closed dual-chamber air springs.

Market Impact: Squeezing Premium and Mass-Market Rivals  

YU7 is supposed to rival with Tesla Model X and NIO ES8. With its blend of performance, tech, and philosophical branding, will it achieve market success? Let’s check out what does the industry insiders say.

Chen Chundong, Roland Berger’s automotive lead indicated that the mid-large SUV market, where YU7 is positioned, is seeing an increasingly competitiveness. In this segment, there are hot-sellers such as Leapmotor’s C16 (RMB 159,800 ≈ USD 22,200), Li Auto’s L6 (RMB 259,800 ≈ USD 36,200) and AITO M7 (RMB 289,800 ≈ USD 40,300), all catering to family users with tech-savvy configurations and competitive pricing.

Investor Optimism: Morgan Stanley Flags "2025 Catalyst"  

Different from the concern from the industry insiders, the capital market seemed quite optimistic. According to Morgan Stanley’s report released on May 20th, the institute believes that YU7 will be significant catalyst in 2025 and replicate the success of SU7 sedan.  

See It Live: Bay Area Auto Show Debut  

Lately, Xiaomi confirmed that the YU7 SUV will team with its SU7 sedan and SU7 Ultra at the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Auto Show. The event will be held during May 31–June 8 at Shenzhen World Exhibition Center Hall. Industry watchers are curious about the car and expecting a pre-sale to open on site.

*(Exchange rate: RMB 7.1884 = USD 1)*