Chine
Xiaomi
Xiaomi is a very recent automaker spun out of a Chinese consumer-electronics giant. The parent company, Xiaomi Corporation, was founded in 2010 in Beijing by Lei Jun and a group of co-founders, and first established itself worldwide with its smartphones, connected devices and home appliances. The automotive venture began in March 2021, when Lei Jun officially announced Xiaomi's entry into electric vehicles, with an initial investment commitment cited at around 10 billion yuan (roughly 1.4 billion US dollars). The dedicated subsidiary, Xiaomi Auto (Xiaomi Automobile), was established the same year in Beijing's economic and technological development zone. Lei Jun presented this project as the last major undertaking of his career, a sign of the strategic importance placed on this diversification. After obtaining a production permit issued by China's National Development and Reform Commission in August 2023, Xiaomi unveiled its first vehicle, the SU7 electric sedan, on December 28, 2023. Sales began on March 28, 2024, in Beijing, and success was immediate: pre-orders quickly exceeded tens of thousands of units within minutes, and the automaker delivered 100,000 SU7s in its very first year. In June 2025, Xiaomi expanded its lineup with the YU7 SUV, positioned against the Tesla Model Y, which also recorded a record order volume right at launch. Geographically, Xiaomi Auto remains focused on the Chinese market to this day. The brand has announced its intention to begin an international expansion, with an envisioned entry into certain foreign markets and a stated goal of arriving in the United States around 2027. As of this writing, no official sales of Xiaomi vehicles exist in Canada or the United States; the few examples present in North America are the result of private imports.
ActiveÉlectrique / hybrideCamion / utilitaireChinoises
History
History of Xiaomi
Xiaomi is a very recent automaker spun out of a Chinese consumer-electronics giant. The parent company, Xiaomi Corporation, was founded in 2010 in Beijing by Lei Jun and a group of co-founders, and first established itself worldwide with its smartphones, connected devices and home appliances. The automotive venture began in March 2021, when Lei Jun officially announced Xiaomi's entry into electric vehicles, with an initial investment commitment cited at around 10 billion yuan (roughly 1.4 billion US dollars). The dedicated subsidiary, Xiaomi Auto (Xiaomi Automobile), was established the same year in Beijing's economic and technological development zone. Lei Jun presented this project as the last major undertaking of his career, a sign of the strategic importance placed on this diversification. After obtaining a production permit issued by China's National Development and Reform Commission in August 2023, Xiaomi unveiled its first vehicle, the SU7 electric sedan, on December 28, 2023. Sales began on March 28, 2024, in Beijing, and success was immediate: pre-orders quickly exceeded tens of thousands of units within minutes, and the automaker delivered 100,000 SU7s in its very first year. In June 2025, Xiaomi expanded its lineup with the YU7 SUV, positioned against the Tesla Model Y, which also recorded a record order volume right at launch. Geographically, Xiaomi Auto remains focused on the Chinese market to this day. The brand has announced its intention to begin an international expansion, with an envisioned entry into certain foreign markets and a stated goal of arriving in the United States around 2027. As of this writing, no official sales of Xiaomi vehicles exist in Canada or the United States; the few examples present in North America are the result of private imports.
Public founding or origin of Xiaomi.
Technologies
Technologies, innovations and platforms
Xiaomi Auto is betting on a fully electric approach that is heavily integrated with its technology ecosystem. Its vehicles are built on the in-house Modena platform, shared between the SU7 sedan and the YU7 SUV. The brand highlights an 800-volt electrical architecture that enables fast charging, electric motors developed in-house (the HyperEngine range, capable of high rotational speeds) and rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive configurations depending on the version. The batteries combine LFP and NMC chemistries depending on the trim, supplied notably by partners such as BYD and CATL. On the driver-assistance side, Xiaomi deploys its Xiaomi Pilot system, with advanced sensors and, on certain versions, a LiDAR. Integration with the Xiaomi ecosystem (phones, connected devices, the HyperOS interface) is a central differentiating argument. The YU7 is built on the Modena platform shared with the SU7, with an 800-volt architecture, rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive depending on the version, and large LFP or NMC batteries (suppliers BYD and CATL) delivering strong CLTC ranges. It gets Xiaomi Pilot assistance and a LiDAR on certain trims. The SU7 uses the Modena platform, an 800-volt architecture and in-house HyperEngine motors, in rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. LFP or NMC batteries depending on the version, fast charging, and Xiaomi Pilot assistance with LiDAR on certain high-end trims. Xiaomi's electrification is 100% battery-electric (BEV), with no hybrid to date. It relies on the Modena platform, an 800-volt architecture, in-house HyperEngine motors, LFP and NMC batteries (BYD, CATL) and fast charging, rounded out by Xiaomi Pilot assistance.
Brand image
Identity, reputation, strengths and weaknesses
Positioning
A Chinese automaker born from electronics, Xiaomi offers high-tech, high-performance, 100% electric vehicles at aggressive prices, still officially absent from North America.
Reputation
For such a recent automaker, Xiaomi has generated strong media and commercial enthusiasm. The SU7 Ultra, the highest-performance version, notably posted a much-noticed lap time at the Nürburgring, beating established benchmarks, which reinforced the brand's image of technical credibility. Several journalistic reviews praise the handling, the steering and the price-to-performance ratio, with some industry executives having publicly praised the product. A few reservations are noted (braking that is sometimes noisy, finish details). Resale value and long-term reliability remain difficult to assess, however, for lack of historical perspective and of any track record in North America.
Strengths
Xiaomi combines a powerful technology ecosystem, polished software integration and fully in-house electrification on a dedicated platform. The brand offers high performance at aggressive prices, refined design and strong name recognition inherited from consumer electronics. Its ability to generate record order volumes demonstrates fast, effective commercial and industrial execution.
Points to watch
The main point of caution is the lack of perspective: the brand is very young, with no established track record for reliability or resale value. Its sales and service network remains centered on China, with no official presence in North America, which complicates maintenance, parts and warranty for a North American buyer. The advertised ranges (CLTC cycle) are optimistic relative to real-world use in cold climates.
Models
Xiaomi models
Current or active models by market
Production and compatibility
Plants, tires and wheels
Production
Xiaomi Auto's production is concentrated in Beijing, in the economic and technological development zone, where the plant that assembled the first SU7 is located and where the current lineup is manufactured. This Chinese facility serves both the domestic market, which is by far the largest, and the first volumes destined for export. Xiaomi has built a team dedicated to exports within its international division and plans to sell some of its vehicles abroad through its Mi Home stores. As of this writing, Xiaomi has no plant or production line in North America, and no official sales are in place there; a possible arrival in the United States has been mentioned for around 2027.
Tires and wheels
Since Xiaomi vehicles are high-performance and rather heavy electric cars, they tend toward large wheel diameters, typically 19 to 21 inches depending on the version, often with wide tires and, on the sporty trims, a staggered setup (rear tires wider than the front). This type of configuration prioritizes grip and handling, at the cost of slightly reduced range with the largest wheels. In Quebec, a second set of approved winter tires remains essential and is the law; for a heavy EV, winter tires with appropriate load and speed ratings are preferred. Always verify the exact size, bolt pattern and offset specific to the model before any purchase.