The SU7 electric sedan was just the beginning for Xiaomi. According to a number of Chinese analysts, the smartphone giant may introduce its second model already this year. It will be an SUV and, like the SU7, he would have Tesla in his sights, both in terms of positioning and performance.

Therefore, Xiaomi would like to strike while the iron is hot after the frenzy surrounding its sedan, which is now offered in China at a bargain price. Thus, SUV, a segment that has been preferred by buyers for many years, will be a good opportunity to increase volume.

Xiaomi and Tesla the same battles?

Xiaomi itself has broken a certain tradition by introducing a sedan for the first time. Most Chinese manufacturers entered the market with SUVs precisely to get a little more volume. The problem when we introduce an electric SUV today is that we necessarily have to be very original and a little bit of a product that looks like a lot of others.
It must be said that Lei Jun, the founder and CEO of Xiaomi, is a strong supporter of sedans. In a video posted on Weibo, he explained how sedans provide a better driving experience than SUVs and that the potential of this segment is very significant, especially among electric vehicles.
Lei Jun may also have been “influenced” by Elon Musk’s choice to introduce the Model 3 over the Model Y. In this regard, a 2013 article (later deleted) on Xiaomi’s official website indicated that Lei Jun visited Musk several times.“This year I was in the USA twice and each time I met Elon Musk. This guy is so amazing it almost defies reason.”can be read in the message.

Updated SU7?

However, if Xiami introduces an SUV this year, it will definitely be a model on the same technical basis as the SU7. As such, this model will definitely be based on the Modena platform, fully developed by Xiaomi, and which can accommodate a battery with a capacity of up to 150 kWh, offering a range of up to 1,260 kilometers according to the Chinese CLTC cycle. According to the WLTP cycle, a little stricter, autonomy remains impressive and should be around 1,100 km. These are sedan figures, SUV figures should be less impressive given the Cx model.
The SU7 is equipped with a CTB (cell-to-body) battery that contains LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) cells in the chassis. An SUV should be eligible for the same. This not only saves space, but also strengthens the structure.

Two battery capacities will be available, namely 73.6 and 101 kWh respectively range from 668 to 800 kilometers on the Chinese CLTC cycle.