Xiaomi names its new SUV the YU7, set to launch next summer to compete against the Model Y

Chinese tech behemoth turned EV automaker Xiaomi Automobile continues to make its presence known in the industry, striking fast and often. Following news earlier this year that it was working on a second flagship model, an SUV, to compete against the Tesla Model Y, Xiaomi has finally unveiled it and shared it will be called the YU7; have a look.

Today’s news is yet another electrified feather in Xiaomi Automobile’s cap in 2024, as it appears to be finishing its breakout year strong with the debut of a second bespoke model. To think, Xiaomi’s EV manufacturing division didn’t even exist three years ago, and it has already developed, scaled, and delivered a sleek electric sedan called the SU7 and is following up with a 1,548-hp version called the SU7 Ultra.

After launching the SU7 in March, Xiaomi reported it had built 10,000 of them in China in a mere 32 days, setting a production pace to deliver over 100,000 units before year’s end. As we reported last month, Xiaomi hit its 100,000 target in just 230 days, well ahead of schedule, empowering it to reset its sights on reaching 130,000 SU7s built this year.

Shortly after the SU7’s start of production, Xiaomi shared plans for a second model, an SUV, that was already in development and had been benchmarking a Tesla Model Y as its main competitor. At the time, Xiaomi said it was aiming to start production of the new SUV by late 2025 once the second phase of its EV production facility in Yizhuang, Beijing, was completed.

Until today, we had only seen spy images of the SUV, but Xiaomi has unveiled its exterior and shared its model name – the YU7. Additionally, in true Xiaomi fashion, that targeted start of production appears to be coming earlier than expected and could be making its way to Chinese customers before the fall of 2025.

Xiaomi’s new YU7 SUV to launch in June or July 2025

Xiaomi Automobile shared the two images of its new SUV seen above on its Weibo page today with the following message (translated from Chinese):

Let me introduce to you the new member of Xiaomi Motors: Xiaomi YU7, a new SUV, which is expected to be officially launched in June or July next year.

We don’t have any other details at this time, but we know that the SUV will be called the Xiaomi YU7, fitting a similar nomenclature to its SU7 sibling. The new model also appears to have quite similar styling to the sedan, with a similar length and side profile but a taller body.

The SUV’s front and rear look nearly identical to the SU7, apart from a few variations in side aerodynamics, like its air slots behind the front wheels and flush door handles. With two bespoke models now visible in the public eye, we are getting a feel for Xiaomi’s design language, and it’s pretty sleek.

We have yet to get any performance specs from Xiaomi, but Chinese media outlet CnEVPost pointed out that some of the core details are available via a regulatory filing overseas. Currently, the Xiaomi YU7 SUV only has one model in the filing catalog, which, as previously stated, will be manufactured at the company’s EV factory in Yizhuang, Beijing.

It measures 4,999 mm in length, 1,996 mm in width, and 1,600 mm in height and has a wheelbase of 3,000 mm. The SUV weighs 2,405 kg (5,302 lbs) and can reach a top speed of 253 km/h (157 mph). The lone model in the filing features front and rear motors that can get a peak power of 220 kW and 288 kW, respectively. A Lithium-ion ternary battery from CATL will power those motors, but its capacity is unknown at this time.

For comparison, the Xiaomi SU7 currently comes in a Standard and Max trim, offering 700 km (435 miles) and 810 km (503 miles) of CLTC range, respectively. The latter comes from a 101 kW battery pack, and the sedan can reach a top speed of 265 km/h (165 mph).

More details will come to light in 2025 as Xiaomi prepares to officially launch the YU7 SUV, but from what we’ve seen so far, it looks like another winner that should sell quite well in China. At its current expansion rate, it’s hard to believe Xiaomi isn’t exploring expansion to other markets. It’s hard to believe Xiaomi isn’t exploring expansion to other markets at its current expansion rate. That will be another facet to keep an eye on.