Xiaomi SU7 Sales Shatter Records: What the First-Gen EV Swan Song Means for Western Auto Markets

Is the pace of the Chinese EV revolution finally too fast to track? Just as Western legacy automakers struggle to scale their EV lines, Chinese tech giant Xiaomi has stunned the market by announcing a monumental delivery milestone for its first-ever electric vehicle, the SU7, just ahead of its second-generation launch. Is this speed an anomaly, or a harbinger of future disruption for Tesla and European rivals?

Xiaomi Founder, Chairman, and CEO Lei Jun confirmed via Weibo that the first-generation Xiaomi SU7 sales record has been hit, with total deliveries surpassing 381,000 units between its April 2024 start and the first-generation’s official production end in February 2026. This rapid turnover—ending production on a model less than two years old—is highly unusual outside of China’s hyper-competitive environment, where annual updates are becoming the norm to maintain an edge.

The 381k Milestone: A Western Perspective

The sheer volume of 381,000+ units delivered in under two years for a brand-new automotive entrant is staggering. For context, this success firmly placed Xiaomi in the top tier of the Chinese NEV market, with newer rivals like Xiaomi recording sales growth of over 90% in certain periods, even as established players like BYD saw momentum cool. The first-gen SU7 notably outsold the Tesla Model 3 in China, establishing itself as a sales champion in the 200,000-300,000 yuan segment.

Why This Matters to the West:

• Speed to Market & Iteration: The two-year model refresh cycle signals that Xiaomi is operating on a tech product timeline, not a traditional auto timeline. This forces competitors like Tesla and established EU brands to accelerate their own mid-cycle refreshes.
• Ecosystem Integration: The success of the SU7 has been heavily attributed to its synergy with Xiaomi’s massive smartphone and IoT ecosystem, a competitive moat that traditional automakers lack.
• Intensifying Price War: This rapid update cycle comes as the broader Chinese market faces softening domestic demand and a fierce price war, with analysts expecting continued pressure in 2026.

The Next-Gen SU7: Hardware Parity and Beyond

The production line is now being retooled for the new generation, which already began accepting pre-orders in January. The official launch is slated for April 2026, with pre-sale prices ranging from 229,900 to 309,900 RMB.

Key Upgrades: Aiming for Premium Segment

Xiaomi isn’t just refreshing; they are significantly boosting core technology, particularly in critical areas where Western buyers expect parity or superiority.

• Intelligent Driving: The new SU7 achieves ‘hardware parity’ by making LiDAR standard across the entire lineup. The ADAS chip capacity jumps to 700 TOPS, a nearly 38% increase from the previous top configuration, underpinning the upgraded Xiaomi HAD system.
• Performance Boost: All trims receive an upgraded powertrain with the new V6s Plus Super Motor. The Max version now produces 507kW (690 horsepower), up from 495kW.
• Premium Aesthetics: Introduction of an exclusive new ‘Capri Blue’ exterior color.

This strategic overhaul shows Xiaomi is leveraging its significant R&D spend to leapfrog competitors in software integration and high-cost components like LiDAR, all while maintaining a competitive price point against rivals like the Tesla Model 3. See our analysis on how Chinese tech giants are leveraging software-defined vehicles (SDV) for market dominance.

Implications for Global Automakers

The transition from first-gen success to a rapidly updated second generation in under two years highlights a fundamental shift in automotive industry cycles. While the Chinese market faces domestic slowdowns and regulatory scrutiny, Chinese exports are becoming a structural growth engine, with brands aggressively looking overseas.

For Western investors and potential buyers looking at the shifting landscape, the **Xiaomi SU7 sales record** underscores that future competition will be won not just on battery range, but on software iteration speed and core component standardization. The question is no longer if Chinese brands will challenge global incumbents, but how fast they can export this rapid development cycle.

Recommended Reading

To better understand the unique competitive dynamics driving this speed, we recommend:

• Chip War: The Fight for the Future of the Semiconductor Industry by Chris Miller. (Understanding the advanced hardware race central to the new SU7 is crucial.)