Beijing: Potential buyers of Xiaomi’s new SU7 electric sedan are bracing themselves for a lengthy wait, with the company’s app revealing delivery delays of up to seven months. This revelation underscores the overwhelming demand for Xiaomi’s foray into the electric vehicle market.
Xiaomi initiated the preorder process for its SU7 electric sedan last Thursday, following the announcement of competitive pricing starting at $29,870. Within the first 24 hours, preorders soared to an impressive 88,898, signaling a strong consumer interest in Xiaomi’s automotive offering.
A scrutiny of Xiaomi’s car app by Reuters on Monday unveiled estimated delivery times for different SU7 models. The standard SU7 and SU7 Pro models are projected to have delivery timelines of 18-21 weeks, while the premium model, priced at 299,900 yuan, may require a longer wait of 27-30 weeks.
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In a bid to catalyze sales, Xiaomi introduced two special editions of the SU7, dubbed the “Founder’s Edition”, which boasted complimentary gifts such as refrigerators. The initial batch of 5,000 Founder’s Edition vehicles swiftly sold out upon preorder availability last Thursday.
CEO Lei Jun took to Weibo on Sunday to announce plans for a second round of sales for the Founder’s Edition, albeit without specifying the scale of the offering. Additionally, Jun revealed Xiaomi’s proactive measures to combat abnormal orders and scalping activities during the preorder phase.
Xiaomi’s ambitious venture into the electric vehicle market saw the establishment of a Beijing factory with a capacity to produce 200,000 cars annually, even before regulatory approval was secured. Notably, state-owned automaker BAIC Group disclosed its collaboration with Xiaomi to manufacture vehicles at the same facility.
