Xiaomi eyes international car sales from 2027 amid strong domestic demand

Reuters

Tech company Xiaomi says it will consider selling its electric vehicles (EV) outside China starting in 2027, CEO Lei Jun said, citing strong local demand for its SU7 sedan and newly launched YU7 SUV.

Speaking during a livestream on Wednesday, Lei Jun said the company must prioritise domestic orders before looking abroad.

“We’ll strive to ramp up capacity,” he added, without detailing plans to address long waiting times.

Xiaomi’s SU7 electric sedan has outsold Tesla’s Model 3 in China on a monthly basis since December, while the YU7 SUV attracted strong interest, receiving a surge of orders within 18 hours of its launch on 27 June. Customers have since been told they may wait more than a year for delivery, prompting complaints on social media.

The firm had previously identified 2027 as a potential starting point for international EV shipments but had not confirmed its intention until now.

Xiaomi, known primarily for smartphones, is among a growing number of Chinese tech companies entering the electric vehicle market. The company’s early sales success reflects growing domestic appetite for homegrown EV brands and pressure on global rivals like Tesla.

Shares in Xiaomi have surged to a record high following the YU7’s debut. However, concerns over production capacity and fulfilment timelines remain, as the company works to establish itself as a serious automotive contender.

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