This Popular Smartphone Brand Is Now Selling Electric SUVs. When Is It Coming To India?
Chinese electronics giant Xiaomi, best known for its smartphones, has reported record-breaking earnings in the second quarter of 2025 as its electric vehicle (EV) business gathers momentum. The company posted revenue of 116 billion Chinese yuan (about $16.1 billion), marking a 30.5% year-on-year increase, its highest ever.
While Xiaomi's smartphone business held steady during the quarter, the real surge came from its EV segment, which has quickly become a growth engine. Xiaomi President Lu Weibing said the company aims to enter the European EV market by 2027, though he clarified there are no immediate plans for India. Company executives in India reiterated that the EV strategy will remain focused on the Chinese market for the next two to three years.
Although Xiaomi's first electric sedan, the SU7, was displayed at an auto show in India earlier this year, the company has indicated that sales here are unlikely to begin before 2027. Officials stressed they are still studying Indian market conditions and government policies before taking any steps.
Xiaomi formally set up its automobile division in September 2021 with headquarters in Beijing. In July 2024, it secured approval from Chinese regulators to manufacture autonomous EVs, enabling the company to independently produce cars.
Its debut model, the SU7 sedan, made waves when it was unveiled in December 2023 and launched in March 2024. Within 24 hours, Xiaomi received 90,000 orders, and by the end of 2024, the figure had surged to 2,48,000 locked-in bookings. Available in four trims – SU7, SU7 Pro, SU7 Max, and SU7 Ultra – the car has been positioned as a direct rival to Tesla's Model 3, offering long range, high performance, and integration with Xiaomi's HyperOS ecosystem.
Riding on the success of its sedan, Xiaomi entered the SUV market in June 2025 with the YU7, offered in three variants: YU7 (priced at 2,53,500 yuan), YU7 Pro (2,79,900 yuan), and YU7 Max (3,29,900 yuan). The reception was electric. Within three minutes of launch, 200,000 pre-orders were recorded, climbing to 2,89,000 in the first hour.
The YU7 boasts a range of up to 835 km, outpacing Tesla's Model Y, along with high output of up to 690 bhp and ultra-fast charging. These features have cemented its place in the premium SUV segment and boosted Xiaomi's profile as a serious contender in the EV space.
Looking ahead, Xiaomi has confirmed plans to introduce the YU9 in 2026. The SUV will be a range-extended electric vehicle (EREV), featuring a 1.5-litre turbo engine that functions as a generator. It will compete against established luxury rivals including Volvo and BMW, as well as China's own L9 and AITO M9.
Xiaomi's rapid transformation from a smartphone maker into a dual-tech and mobility powerhouse signals how Chinese companies are reshaping the global EV market. For now, the focus remains on China and, soon, Europe, with India still a market under observation.
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