Xiaomi’s Electric Car Faces Six-Month Delivery Delay
Just days after Xiaomi, the Chinese smartphone giant, unveiled its debut electric vehicle (EV), potential buyers have been informed of a potential wait of up to six months for their vehicle to arrive.
Images circulating on Chinese social media platforms depict the company notifying customers that delivery of the SU7 Max could extend to 27 weeks.
Xiaomi reported a staggering 88,898 pre-orders within the initial 24 hours of opening orders on Thursday.
Despite requests for comment, Xiaomi has not yet responded to inquiries from BBC.
The tech giant, renowned as the third-largest smartphone vendor globally, with a market share of roughly 12%, is now entering the electric vehicle market, competing with established players like Tesla and BYD in the largest automobile market worldwide.
The standard SU7 model is priced at 215,900 yuan ($29,872; £23,663), while the Max variant costs 299,900 yuan.
Comparatively, Tesla’s Model 3 starts at 245,900 yuan in China.
Boasting a minimum range of 700km (435 miles), the SU7 surpasses the Tesla Model 3’s 567km range, drawing comparisons with Porsche’s Taycan and Panamera models.
In a bid to bolster SU7’s market presence, Xiaomi has introduced special editions such as the Founder’s Edition, offering complimentary gifts like refrigerators.
Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun recently announced on Weibo the launch of a second round of sales for the Founder’s Edition.
Capitalizing on its existing customer base, Xiaomi aims to appeal to consumers by integrating the SU7’s operating system with its range of electronic devices.
Produced by a subsidiary of state-owned car manufacturer BAIC Group in Beijing, the plant has an annual capacity of up to 200,000 vehicles.
However, the EV market has encountered a slowdown globally, sparking a price war. Tesla, led by Elon Musk, slashed prices in China, while local rivals like BYD have followed suit.
Despite the challenges, Xiaomi remains committed to its EV venture, pledging a $10 billion investment over the next decade.