Xiaomi SU7 Buyers Face Up to Seven-Month Wait Amid Soaring Demand

Xiaomi has announced a seven-month delivery wait for its new electric sedan, the SU7, following an overwhelming reception with nearly 90,000 orders in the first 24 hours.

Xiaomi's Electric SU7 Sedan Surges in Popularity with 50,000 Orders in 27 Minutes

Orders for Chinese smartphone giant Xiaomi's brand-new SU7 have been pouring in. The company announced that it had received over 50,000 orders for the new all-electric sedan within 27 minutes of accepting them. Xiaomi has informed potential buyers of a seven-month wait time before receiving the car. Apple read it and weep, as per Electrek.

On Thursday, Xiaomi began accepting orders for its SU7 sedan, a direct competitor to the Tesla Model 3, after announcing competitive pricing starting at $29,870. According to Reuters, the company reported on Friday that pre-orders reached nearly 90,000 in the first 24 hours.

Xiaomi's car app warned potential buyers this morning that the new SU7 and SU7 Pro could be delivered in 18 to 21 weeks. The most expensive model, the AWD SU7 Max (priced at 299,900 yuan/$41,500), will take 27 to 30 weeks.

Xiaomi also released a limited-edition version called the Founder's Edition, which includes additional features like a mini-fridge add-on. According to Reuters, the first batch of 5,000 of these sold out immediately. According to a Weibo post by co-founder and CEO Lei Jun on Sunday, another batch of the Founder's Edition version will be available, but he did not specify when or in what quantity.

Xiaomi's SU7 Sets New Standards in EV Market with Advanced Specs and Technology

The SU7 Standard option has impressive specs, including a 73.6 kWh battery and a range of 700km (435 miles), while the Pro has a 94.3 kWh battery and a range of 830km (516 miles). The Pro is priced at RMB 245,900 ($34,000.).

The SU7 includes advanced technology such as a head-up display, Pilot Pro ADAS (Pilot Max with vision and LiDAR on the top two trim levels), and a Dolby Atmos sound system (Max trim). Xiaomi is aiming for Tesla with a vehicle that is the same price as the entry-level Model 3 in China but has significantly better specs.

The SU7 marks the Chinese electronics giant's transition to bold new ventures, and billionaire cofounder Jun is setting high goals. He promises to become a global automotive leader within 15 to 20 years and to create a "dream car" that can compete with Tesla and Porsche. At the vehicle's launch event in December, he revealed that the company intends to invest $10 billion to shake up the industry, as it did with smartphones ten years ago.

Since the company first announced its plans to enter the EV market in 2021, the regulatory landscape in China, the world's largest car market, has shifted dramatically. The government has restricted new players' access to manufacturing permits, forcing Xiaomi to collaborate with the state-owned Beijing Automotive Holding Group to build its electric vehicles.

Also, Xiaomi is entering a fiercely dense and competitive market flooded with hundreds of new models from dozens of Chinese brands led by powerhouse BYD. Of course, the future of Chinese EVs arriving in the United States remains uncertain.

Photo: Xiaomi/Twitter