Xiaomi SU7 Production Gears Up: Spotted En Masse Near Beijing Factory
As we’re wandering on the outskirts of Beijing, a noteworthy situation has presented itself to us — a massive lot filled with significant numbers of Xiaomi SU7 electric sedans. These EVs are just chilling in a lot near the factory. Our assumption is safe (as it has been for a few weeks since the brand began teasing us with video footage) and it seems we’ve caught the beginning of Xiaomi’s mass production phase.
Chinese media is in overdrive with reports about the company’s latest EV project, and word on the street suggests that Xiaomi is already moving into its manufacturing phase. In fact, Xiaomi’s EV’s SOP — or Start of Production — arrives this February, and numbers claim that production will furtively begin. It looks like it’s starting with just 2,000 cars per month through March, while 10,000 units of Xiaomi’s next EV will be produced each month as of July.
The Xiaomi SU7 is being assembled in Beijing under contract by BAIC Off-road Vehicle Co., a subsidiary of the venerable Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co. Ltd (BAIC). Having manufactured Mercedes-Benz vehicles in China through the Beijing-Benz joint venture since 2005, the importance of BAIC to Daimler is clear. A 51% stakeholder in the joint venture, BAIC is not only effectively owned by the Chinese government, but it similarly owns a 10% stake in Daimler. That’s the same stake China’s Geely purchased in the German automaker this past February.
Xiaomi’s SU7 journey began in December with trial production, as 300 pre-production models were produced to be tested in extreme conditions around the globe. Their testing regimes included comprehensive road and track evaluations throughout China in an exhaustive testing regime from Xiaomi’s QA system, and just recently was a Xiaomi test vehicle involved in an incident on a snowy road in upper YouKan6, China, a sure sign of the challenges of winter testing.
To further prove its winter prowess, Xiaomi on February 8 also released a video of the SU7 running at -33°C near Heiha City in North China. Here Lei Jun, Xiaomi CEO explains his vision to become “the world’s №1 in winter range and efficiency”. He also talks about Xiaomi’s proprietary heat pump technology, which he says is “apparently” developed by Xiaomi itself.
Unveiled on December 28th, the Xiaomi SU7 comes in two versions: a RWD standard and the hybrid-Max AWD performance-oriented. Boasting a gob smacking 495 kW (664 hp) and 838 Nm, the Max is good for 0–100 km/h in 2.78 seconds and a 265 km/h top speed, powered by a 101 kWh NMC battery from CATL, good for an 800 km range on the CLTC cycle, and using a 875 V high-voltage architecture for rapid charging. The RWD gets only 220 kW (295 hp) and 400 Nm; the sprint to 100 km/h in 5.28 seconds is still none too shabby, thanks to its 73.6 kWh battery, yielding a 668 km CLTC range.
Charging a capability as impressive as the tech inside, with a claim that it could regain up to 390 km of range in just 10 minutes, even the same Tesla Model S Plaid, this part is relying on you to believe.) It’s based on the Xiaomi’s Modena platform, with dimensions that put it very close to the Porsche Tycan, but slightly larger, and with plenty of cargo capacity, offering a total of 544 liters (105l frunk, a 517l boot).
While the price isn’t written in stone, today there were rumors of around 300,000 yuan ($42,000 USD) as opposed to the 200,000 yuan suggested earlier. Lastly, the delivery timeline is also still not clear, but Lei Jun did say they’re “determined” to launch in the first half of the year.