This Xiaomi car is selling like hotcakes! And no wonder, it offers amazing features for an unprecedented price

Chinese technology giant Xiaomi officially launched sales of its first electric SUV, designated YU7, a few days ago and immediately encountered an unexpected problem – enormous customer interest. Within just three minutes of opening pre-orders, the company recorded more than 200,000 reservations, 120,000 of which were backed by non-refundable deposits. After 18 hours, the number of binding orders climbed to a staggering 240,000 units.

He who waits shall receive. In a year

The massive interest in the new electric vehicle has caused delivery times to extend to levels we are more familiar with from the pandemic era. According to official information from Xiaomi’s website, those interested in the basic YU7 model must expect a waiting time of 56-59 weeks. For the mid-range YU7 Pro variant, it’s slightly better – 50-53 weeks. The top-tier YU7 Max version will reach its new owners fastest, in 37-40 weeks.

While the basic YU7 model, priced at 253,800 yuan (approximately 746,000 CZK), attracts the most interest, the more expensive Pro variants (279,900 yuan / 823,000 CZK) and Max (329,900 yuan / 970,000 CZK) paradoxically have shorter waiting times. This suggests that a significant portion of customers prefer the more affordable version.

Brick-and-mortar stores and their success

Interesting data was provided by Chinese automotive analyst with the nickname @孙少军09, who has over 1.24 million followers on the social network Weibo. According to his analysis, 351 Xiaomi brick-and-mortar stores recorded between 280,800 and 315,900 binding orders within the first 72 hours of the YU7’s launch. On average, each store thus gained 800 to 900 orders, with the conversion rate of visitors to actual customers reaching a respectable 75-80%.

Xiaomi used the same strategy for selling electric vehicles as it does for its smartphones – an extensive network of brick-and-mortar stores where customers can not only view the product but also get detailed information. Employees are trained not only in technical specifications but also in explaining the role of the YU7 within the entire Xiaomi “Human-Car-Home” ecosystem.

Who buys an electric vehicle from a phone manufacturer?

According to the analyst’s findings, the typical customer is a young urban resident – 55% of buyers are men aged 22 to 35. Roughly 60-70% of customers are switching from an existing vehicle, while 5-7% reportedly changed their original reservation for the Xiaomi SU7 sedan in favor of the new SUV model.

Regarding the popularity of individual variants, 55% of customers chose the basic YU7 model, 25% prefer the mid-range Pro variant, and the remaining 20% opted for the top-tier Max version. Interestingly, customers on average spend an additional 15,000 to 20,000 yuan (approximately 44,000 to 58,000 CZK) on optional equipment and accessories.

Production is lagging, Xiaomi is increasing capacity

To cope with the enormous demand, Xiaomi must significantly increase production capacities. The company declares that it plans to produce up to 350,000 electric vehicles in 2025, which is still far from sufficient to cover current interest. Production takes place in two plants designated F1 and F2, whose capacity is currently insufficient.

To facilitate financing for its electric vehicles, Xiaomi offers flexible installment plans ranging from 12 to 60 months, with a down payment between 15% and 85% of the total vehicle price. This flexibility in payment terms has likely also contributed to the enormous customer interest.

Although Xiaomi initially focused primarily on the Chinese market, there is talk in the corridors that electric vehicles of this brand could appear in Europe next year. However, given the current trade tensions between the EU and China and the introduction of tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, this will not be a simple process.

An electric vehicle that impressed with its parameters

It’s no wonder that the YU7 generated such interest. It is a medium to large SUV with a length of 4,999 mm and a wheelbase of 3,000 mm, offering a range of up to 835 kilometers (according to the Chinese CLTC methodology). The top-tier YU7 Max AWD version boasts a combined output of 508 kW (approximately 680 horsepower) and 866 Nm of torque, which is enough for acceleration from zero to hundred in just 3.23 seconds.

This Xiaomi car is selling like hotcakes! And no wonder, it offers amazing features for an unprecedented price Jakub Kárník News Jakub Kárník News

Xiaomi bet on an 800V high-voltage platform, which allows for extremely fast charging – in just 15 minutes, it can “refuel” enough energy for 620 kilometers of driving. The interior offers three interconnected Mini LED displays with a total width of 1.1 meters, forming a continuous surface across the entire width of the cockpit.

Would you buy an electric car from Xiaomi?

Source: XiaomiEV (1, 2), Notebookcheck