Xiaomi unveiled its second foray into the automotive industry, the SUV YU7, aimed at competing directly with the popular Tesla Model Y. Today’s formal unveiling of many specifications and options allows for a comprehensive evaluation against the US automaker’s SUV.
Tesla’s stronghold in China is Mannequin Y. In the final year, Tesla acquired 480,309 units of Model Y in China, representing a substantial 74.6% of its overall sales volume in the region. Despite intense competition from numerous Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers, such as the Xpeng G6, Deepblue S7, Zeekr 7X, and Onvo L60, the mid-size SUV still managed to achieve a decent level of promotion.
It wasn’t a straightforward ride for Mannequin Y, as the 5.2% year-over-year improvement in 2024 paled in comparison to the significant strides made in previous years: 44.7% growth in 2023 and a remarkable 85.6% surge in 2022. Despite the circumstances, it was surprisingly resilient and managed to hold up well.
Despite the January facelift’s limited updates, which primarily focused on exterior design, it failed to impress many enthusiasts, who were disappointed by the lack of 800V charging technology. Following the overhaul of the Shanghai production site, Mannequin Y’s revenue plummeted by 19.6% from January to April 2025, as the facility’s new capabilities and processes had a significant impact on sales figures. As Tesla expected, its updated model’s gross sales would likely accelerate in the second half of the year, but Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun seems to disagree.
At this year’s product launch event, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun made no secret of his company’s plans to rival Tesla. Unlike its predecessor, the Yu7 boldly outshines the Mannequin Y by boasting a plethora of features where it excels, confidently proclaiming itself as an even more potent competitor.
The varying and charging velocity of one detail were crucial to its overall performance. Claiming an 800V platform enables YU7 to extend its range by a whopping 620km with just a quarter-hour of charging? Compared to Mannequin Y, which requires 27 minutes to recharge from 10% to 80% state of charge (SoC), the Xiaomi CEO noted.
The Xiaomi Yu7 is offered in three variants: Normal, Professional, and Max, mirroring the trim levels of its SUV counterpart, the Sedan.
We compared the specs of the YU7 Normal (RWD) with its competitor, Model Y RWD, in the first table. In a separate table, we contrasted the YU7 Professional (AWD) with its counterpart, Model Y Long Range (AWD). We’ve also introduced the YU7 Max to our lineup, boasting a formidable 508 kW power output that puts it in direct competition with the Model Y Performance, despite the latter not being available in China. Tesla offers exclusively a 5-seat variant of the Model Y in China, with whispers suggesting that a 7-seat version may debut as early as next year.
Compared to Model Y’s 593-kilometer range within its entry-level trim, the YU7 boasts a substantially longer 830-kilometer range. Due to its more substantial battery, the YU7 boasts a larger capacity at 96.3 kWh, whereas the Mannequin Y’s battery holds 62.2 kWh. Standing at approximately 5 metres in length, YU7 measures 202mm longer than its American SUV counterpart. Alternatively, Mannequin Y weighs in at 394 kilograms less than its counterpart, YU7. The YU7 boasts a spacious frunk with a generous capacity of 141 litres. The acceleration remains unchanged at a rapid 5.9 seconds to reach 100 km/h from a standstill.
| YU7 Normal RWD | Mannequin Y RWD | |
| Vary (CLTC) | 593 km | |
| Battery | 62.5 kWh | |
| Battery sort | LFP | LFP |
| Battery model | BYD | CATL |
| Charging platform | 400 V | |
| Motor | 220 kW | |
| Acceleration (0-100 km/h) | 5.9 sec | 5.9 sec |
| High velocity | 201 km/h | |
| Measurement (L/W/H) | 4999/1996/1608 mm | 4797/1920/1624 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3000 mm | 2890 mm |
| Curb weight | 2315 kg | |
| Seats | 5-door 5-seater | Drag coefficient |
| Frunk | 116 L | |
| Drag cooficient | 0.245 Cd | |
| ADAS chip | Nvidia AGX Thor, 700 TOPS | |
| Value | N/A | 263,500 yuan |
| Value USD | N/A | 36,590 USD |
The upper trim of the YU7 Professional distinguishes itself from the Mannequin Y Longer by boasting superior specifications across several categories, with the exception of drag coefficient, curb weight, and processing power.
| YU7 Professional AWD | YU7 Max AWD | Mannequin Y Lengthy Vary AWD | |
| Vary (CLTC) | 760 km | 719 km | |
| Battery | 101.7 kWh | 78.4 kWh | |
| Battery sort | LFP | NMC | LFP |
| Battery model | BYD | CATL | LG |
| Charging platform | 800 V | 400 V | |
| Motor max output | 508 kW | 331 kW | |
| Entrance + Rear Motor | 130 +235 kW | 220 + 288 kW | 137 + 194 kW |
| Acceleration (0-100 km/h) | 4.27 sec | 3.23 sec | 4.3 sec |
| High velocity | 253 km/h | 201 km/h | |
| Measurement (L/W/H) | 4999/1996/1608 mm | 4999/1996/1608 mm | 4797/1920/1624 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3000 mm | 3000 mm | 2890 mm |
| Curb weight | 2425 kg | 2425 kg | |
| Seats | 5-door 5-seater | 5-door 5-seater | 5-door 5-seater |
| Frunk | 116 L | ||
| Drag cooficient | 0.245 Cd | 0.245 Cd | |
| ADAS chip | Nvidia AGX Thor, 700 TOPS | Nvidia AGX Thor, 700 TOPS | |
| Value | N/A | N/A | 303,500 yuan |
| Value USD | N/A | N/A | 43,530 USD |
The Chinese market is saturated with excellent options for mid-sized electric SUVs, potentially dooming the Model Y in China to a fatal blow with the introduction of the YU7. As Xiaomi might face typical manufacturing bottlenecks, any production setbacks could enable Tesla to regain momentum by mid-2025? Despite this, should Tesla’s plant reach its peak capacity and additional Chinese electric SUVs hit the market by 2026, it could mark a showdown for the company in China, as the risk of year-on-year decline in sales becomes increasingly tangible.
At the convention, Lei revealed that Xiaomi had shipped more than 258,000 units of its SU7 sedan since its launch in April. The gross sales ratio between SUVs and sedans in China approximates a 1:3 proportion.
