After the Model 3, Xiaomi is now tackling the Model Y with a second vehicle in preparation

Just one month after launching its SU7 electric sedan to compete with the Tesla Model 3, Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi is already preparing a second SUV-type model to counter the Model Y.

A little over a month after the launch of its very first electric vehicle, the SU7 sedan, the smartphone giant Xiaomi would already be well
advanced in the development of a new model. According to a report from BloombergXiaomi Automobile has already started testing an electric SUV model whose aim is to compete with the Tesla Model Y, from 2025.

Big success for the Xiaomi SU7

It’s been a little over three years since electronics manufacturer Xiaomi announced the creation of a new branch dedicated to electric vehicles called Xiaomi Automobile. If we have closely followed the transition of this smartphone giant to automobile manufacturing, we must recognize that the launch to the market was faster than expected.

Thus, the manufacturer’s efforts were rewarded during the presentation of the first model, the Xiaomi SU7 electric sedan, which enjoyed great success during its launch this spring, recording more than 50,000 orders in the first 27 minutes of its launch. for sale in China.

With the order backlog for the SU7 now exceeding 100,000 units, Xiaomi has begun leveraging its production expertise to increase capacity to meet demand. In the first 32 days of production of the SU7, the new automaker said it has already manufactured 10,000 units and is aiming for another 90,000 units before the end of the year. Let’s remain cautious, however, because not only have we not tested it, and some feedback from European testers has not been particularly enthusiastic, and what’s more, we will have to see if the success is confirmed over time.

Already a second model in preparation

While the SU7 continues to find a place in China (for the moment the model is still not planned in Europe) on the electric vehicle market, Xiaomi is already developing a second model to compete with the most popular model. sold from the global electric vehicle market, namely the Tesla Model Y.

According to a report from BloombergXiaomi’s second fully electric model will be a compact SUV similar to the very popular Model Y. A source close to the matter indicated that Xiaomi had already started using the Model Y as a benchmark to beat during the development of this new SUV.

When Xiaomi started thinking about its new electric vehicle arm three years ago, an SUV was part of the initial plans, but the company ultimately decided to focus first on the SU7 sedan, which remains its priority for the moment.

That said, the Tesla Model Y competitor is already under development, and Xiaomi reportedly aims to launch production by the end of 2025, once the second phase of its production plant in Yizhuang is completed, close to Beijing.

This factory is expected to reach an annual production capacity of 300,000 units. The first phase is expected to be completed next month, giving Xiaomi a capacity of around 150,000 electric vehicles per year. The second phase is expected to begin expansion in 2024.

According to Chinese media 36krXiaomi also plans to launch a third, more affordable electric vehicle model after the SU7 sedan and this SUV, but the automaker has not yet confirmed these plans.

Source : Bloomberg