Xiaomi SU7: When a Tech Giant Builds a Car
Xiaomi SU7: When a Tech Giant Builds a Car
What happens when the world's third-largest smartphone manufacturer decides to build an electric car? You get the Xiaomi SU7: a vehicle with a 56-inch augmented reality head-up display spanning your entire windshield, a tri-motor variant that accelerates faster than a Bugatti Chiron, and the kind of seamless ecosystem integration that makes Tesla's software look primitive.
At an estimated $45,000 to $100,000+ CAD, the SU7 spans from attainable tech sedan to hypercar-rivaling performance machine. The Ultra variant's 1.98-second 0-100 km/h makes it one of the fastest production cars ever built.
Who Is Xiaomi?
Xiaomi was founded in 2010 and became the world's third-largest smartphone manufacturer within a decade. In 2024, they shipped over 170 million smartphones and generated over $50 billion CAD in revenue.
The Xiaomi ecosystem includes:
- Smartphones (Mi, Redmi, POCO)
- Smart home devices (lights, cameras, robot vacuums)
- Wearables, laptops, tablets
- Over 2,000 connected devices across 100+ categories
Xiaomi sees the car as the largest, most sophisticated device in your connected life—a mobile extension of your smart home that happens to move at 350 km/h.
Complete Specifications: All Four Variants
Xiaomi SU7 Standard
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Battery | 73.6 kWh LFP (BYD Blade) |
| Range (CLTC) | 700 km |
| Real-World Range | ~500-550 km |
| Motor | 220 kW (295 hp) RWD |
| 0-100 km/h | 5.28 seconds |
| DC Charging | ~170 kW |
| Est. CAD Price | $45,000-$50,000 |
Xiaomi SU7 Pro
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Battery | 94.3 kWh LFP (CATL Shenxing) |
| Range (CLTC) | 830 km |
| Real-World Range | ~600-650 km |
| Motor | 220 kW (295 hp) RWD |
| 0-100 km/h | 5.7 seconds |
| DC Charging | ~170 kW |
| Est. CAD Price | $55,000-$60,000 |
Xiaomi SU7 Max
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Battery | 101 kWh NMC (CATL Qilin) |
| Range (CLTC) | 800 km |
| Real-World Range | ~580-620 km |
| Motors | Dual motor AWD, 495 kW (673 hp) |
| 0-100 km/h | 2.78 seconds |
| Top Speed | 265 km/h |
| DC Charging | 300 kW |
| Est. CAD Price | $65,000-$75,000 |
Xiaomi SU7 Ultra
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Battery | 93.7 kWh NMC |
| Range (CLTC) | 620 km |
| Real-World Range | ~450-480 km |
| Motors | Tri-motor AWD, 1,139 kW (1,548 hp) |
| 0-100 km/h | 1.98 seconds |
| Top Speed | 350 km/h |
| DC Charging | 490 kW |
| Est. CAD Price | $100,000+ |
Ultra acceleration context:
- Bugatti Chiron: 2.4 seconds
- Tesla Model S Plaid: 1.99 seconds
- Rimac Nevera: 1.85 seconds
- Xiaomi SU7 Ultra: 1.98 seconds
A hypercar-rivaling machine from a smartphone company for roughly Model S Plaid money.
2026 Model Year Updates
| Update | Specification |
|---|---|
| Platform Voltage | 897V (up from 800V) |
| Battery Capacity | 101.7 kWh |
| Max Range | 835 km (CLTC) |
| Charging Rate | 5.2C peak |
| 15-Min Charging | 670 km added |
| Standard Power | 320 hp (up from 295 hp) |
| Starting Price (China) | CNY 229,900 (~$44,000 CAD) |
The 5.2C charging rate means 10-80% in approximately 11 minutes.
Technology: Smartphone on Wheels
56-Inch AR Head-Up Display
The SU7's most distinctive feature projects information across the entire windshield:
- Navigation arrows that float on the actual road
- Lane guidance highlighting your intended lane
- Hazard warnings positioned at real-world dangers
- Speed and range in your natural sightline
16.1-Inch 3K Central Display
A 2848 x 1960 resolution screen—sharper than most laptops—running HyperOS, Xiaomi's unified operating system across phones, tablets, and smart home devices.
Ecosystem Integration
- Voice control for all vehicle functions
- Smart home control from the car
- Phone-to-car continuity
- Automatic profile switching via facial recognition
- Digital car key via Xiaomi phone
- In-car apps mirrored from smartphone ecosystem
Welcome Ceremony
When you approach, the car performs a "welcome ceremony": door handles deploy, ambient lighting activates, dashboard rotates, screens illuminate with personalized info, seat adjusts to your position.
Comparison: SU7 vs Competitors
| Spec | SU7 Standard | SU7 Max | Model 3 RWD | Model S Plaid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Range | 700 km CLTC | 800 km CLTC | 438 km EPA | 560 km EPA |
| Power | 295 hp | 673 hp | 271 hp | 1,020 hp |
| 0-100 km/h | 5.28 sec | 2.78 sec | 6.1 sec | 1.99 sec |
| Display | 16.1" + 56" HUD | Same | 15.4" | 17" + 8" |
| Est. Price | ~$47,000 | ~$70,000 | $54,990 | $129,990 |
The SU7 Max delivers Model S Plaid-adjacent performance at approximately half the price.
Canadian Availability
Xiaomi has confirmed Europe won't see the SU7 until 2027. Canada has no official timeline.
Realistic expectations:
- 2027-2028: Earliest plausible availability
- Late 2020s: More likely for meaningful presence
- No official North American plans announced
- Zero dealer or service infrastructure
Why Tech Enthusiasts Should Pay Attention
- Software-first thinking - Xiaomi builds ecosystems, not standalone products
- Consumer electronics pricing - Razor-thin margins offset by ecosystem revenue
- Speed of iteration - 2026 updates arrived less than 2 years after launch
- Technology as differentiator - Competing on tech, not brand prestige