In a bold move shaking up the luxury electric vehicle market, Xiaomi unveiled its SU7 Ultra sedan on Thursday, dramatically lowering its price to 529,900 yuan ($72,932). This represents a significant 35% drop from the initial pre-order price of 814,900 yuan announced in late October. A limited-edition version of the SU7 Ultra, with specifications yet to be disclosed, retains the original price.
Early adopters who place orders before the end of March will receive lifetime free access to Xiaomi’s Human-centric Autonomous Driving system (HAD), a feature typically costing 26,000 yuan. At the launch event, Xiaomi’s founder and CEO, Lei Jun, highlighted this offer, drawing a comparison to Tesla’s recent autopilot software update in China, which he noted requires users to pay over 60,000 yuan.
The SU7 Ultra boasts impressive performance, featuring a tri-motor powertrain and a track-optimized battery pack that delivers a maximum horsepower of 1,548. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 1.98 seconds and reaches a top speed of 350 km/h. In November, a high-performance version of the SU7 Ultra set a Nürburgring lap record, completing the 20 km track in 6 minutes and 46.874 seconds, surpassing previous records held by the Rimac Nevera and Porsche Taycan Turbo GT.
Xiaomi’s rapid advancement challenges competitors like ZEEKR, whose 001 FR model, launched in 2023, features a quad-motor system producing 1,265 horsepower, accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.07 seconds, and is priced around 749,000 yuan ($103,000). ZEEKR had claimed that no other carmaker would reach similar capabilities within five years, a notion now contested by Xiaomi’s swift progress in just two years.
At the same event, Xiaomi introduced the Xiaomi 15 Ultra smartphone, equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Supreme Edition chip and dual-satellite communication capabilities. The device offers a high-performance antenna array and three communication chips, enhanced by AI for comprehensive scene optimization. This technology significantly improves communication performance and reduces latency in gaming and live streaming. It supports network-free calls over distances up to 7 kilometers.
In collaboration with China Telecom and Alibaba’s DingTalk, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra introduces an innovative satellite data communication feature. Users can send images and instant messages via the DingTalk app, even when only satellite networks are available. The phone utilizes an AI-enhanced image compression and decompression system to reduce data size for efficient transmission. It can connect directly with two satellite networks, BeiDou and China Telecom’s TianTong. Priced from 6,499 yuan, it will be available on March 3.
Xiaomi announced plans to invest 30 billion yuan ($4.3 billion) into research and development, with AI-related businesses accounting for up to a quarter of the investment. Lei Jun expressed the company’s commitment to integrating AI technology into consumer products, stating, “We are dedicated to incorporating the latest AI advancements into our products, allowing consumers to experience the wonders that technology brings.”
