Apple could have deserted its decade-long car undertaking, however in a number of quick years, one other smartphone large has managed to develop an electrical automotive – and it’s sizzling property in its dwelling market.
The Xiaomi SU7 electrical automotive solely launched in its dwelling market of China final month, however consumers have already been warned of ready occasions stretching as much as seven months.
Xiaomi is among the world’s largest smartphone makers, alongside Apple and Samsung, and as such is very trusted amongst Chinese language customers – leading to an inflow of orders for the brand new electrical automotive.
On paper at the very least, the SU7 is spectacular, with a slippery physique boasting a drag coefficient of 0.195 – with hints of McLaren and Porsche Taycan within the styling – plus a claimed 0-100km/h dash time of two.78 seconds, and as much as 800km of quoted driving vary in China’s extra lenient testing protocols.
The SU7 – which is brief for ‘Pace Extremely’ – is accessible to order from 215,900 yuan, or roughly $AU45,600, which makes it cheaper than a Tesla Mannequin 3.
Chatting with Drive on the 2024 Beijing motor present, a spokesperson for the corporate mentioned Xiaomi was a longtime model in China, and had gained the belief of hundreds of thousands of people that use its smartphones.
Even on the devoted media day, the Xiaomi stand on the motor present was one of many few that was so standard it needed to be roped off, with a 10-minute line stretching across the perimeter – as journalists, influencers, and business pundits alike scrambled to stand up shut with the SU7.
Nonetheless, the spokesperson was fast to close down any discuss of the model doubtlessly increasing into abroad markets corresponding to Australia.
“We’ve got restricted manufacturing,” the Xiaomi spokesperson advised Drive.
“Proper now, we have to deal with China for the following two to a few years.”
Whereas the consultant admitted they’d been requested a number of occasions about the potential of a right-hand-drive model of the SU7, there have been no plans within the instant future to develop such a automotive.
When pushed, the spokesperson for Xiaomi mentioned introducing the model to markets corresponding to Australia may change into a risk within the subsequent 5 or 10 years, however reaffirmed the corporate was dedicated to the following two to a few years and fulfilling present orders first.
The publish Australia years away for smartphone maker’s first electrical automotive appeared first on Drive.
