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Apple may have abandoned its decade-long vehicle project, but in a few short years, another smartphone giant has managed to develop an electric car – and it’s hot property in its home market.
The Xiaomi SU7 electric car only launched in its home market of China last month, but buyers have already been warned of waiting times stretching up to seven months.
Xiaomi is one of the world’s largest smartphone makers, alongside Apple and Samsung, and as such is highly trusted among Chinese consumers – resulting in an influx of orders for the new electric car.
On paper at least, the SU7 is impressive, with a slippery body boasting a drag coefficient of 0.195 – with hints of McLaren and Porsche Taycan in the styling – plus a claimed 0-100km/h sprint time of 2.78 seconds, and up to 800km of quoted driving range in China’s more lenient testing protocols.
The SU7 – which is short for ‘Speed Ultra’ – is available to order from 215,900 yuan, or approximately $AU45,600, which makes it cheaper than a Tesla Model 3.
Speaking to Drive at the 2024 Beijing motor show, a spokesperson for the company said Xiaomi was an established brand in China, and had gained the trust of millions of people who use its smartphones.
Even on the dedicated media day, the Xiaomi stand at the motor show was one of the few that was so popular it had to be roped off, with a 10-minute line stretching around the perimeter – as journalists, influencers, and industry pundits alike scrambled to get up close with the SU7.
However, the spokesperson was quick to shut down any talk of the brand potentially expanding into overseas markets such as Australia.
“We have limited production,” the Xiaomi spokesperson told Drive.
“Right now, we need to focus on China for the next two to three years.”
While the representative admitted they had been asked multiple times about the possibility of a right-hand-drive version of the SU7, there were no plans in the immediate future to develop such a car.
When pushed, the spokesperson for Xiaomi said introducing the brand to markets such as Australia could become a possibility in the next five or 10 years, but reaffirmed the company was committed to the next two to three years and fulfilling current orders first.
The post Australia years away for smartphone maker’s first electric car appeared first on Drive.
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