Chinese tech giant Xiaomi as officially entered the electric vehicle (EV) market with its first offering, the SU7 sedan. The vehicle has already received an overwhelming response, with 120,000 orders placed within 36 hours of its launch.
What Happened: Xiaomi, a major player in the smartphone industry, has now set its sights on the EV market. The company’s CEO, Lei Jun, unveiled the SU7 at a launch event in Beijing on Thursday, reports Fortune. Currently only available in China, the vehicle has already surpassed 120,000 orders, selling out the entire year’s production capacity.
Lei Jun, a prominent figure in China, has positioned the SU7 as a direct competitor to Tesla Inc‘s (NASDAQ:TSLA) Model 3. He stated, “Many people ask me who the Xiaomi SU7 is built for. My answer is, isn't it time for Tesla Model 3 users to upgrade?”
Lei asserted that the SU7, initially exclusive to China, surpasses the Tesla Model 3 in 90% of its specifications. He noted that Xiaomi would require a few additional years to close the remaining gap. Lei highlighted the sedan’s impressive minimum driving range of 700 kilometers (approximately 435 miles), compared to the Model 3’s 606 kilometers.
Moreover, he mentioned ...