Xiaomi's YU7 EV Takes Over Chinese Market, CEO Warns of Long Wait Times and Recommends Tesla, XPeng, and Li Auto

Xiaomi's YU7 electric SUV is experiencing massive success in China, with over 240,000 reservations within the first 18 hours of its unveiling. The vehicle offers a longer driving range and cheaper starting price than Tesla's Model Y. With wait times for the YU7 reportedly around 56-59 weeks, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun is recommending consumers buy other EV brands, including Tesla's Model Y, XPeng G7, and Li Auto i8, if they need a vehicle quickly.

Xiaomi's YU7 electric SUV has sparked significant interest in China, with over 240,000 reservations within the first 18 hours of its unveiling in June [1]. The vehicle, priced at around $35,300 for the Standard model, offers a longer driving range of 835 km (519 miles) compared to the Tesla Model Y RWD's 593 km (368 miles) [1]. Moreover, the YU7 features an 800V architecture, allowing it to recharge to 80% in just 13 minutes, compared to the Model Y's 18 minutes [1].

Despite its popularity, the YU7 is facing significant production challenges, with wait times reported to be around 56 to 59 weeks [1]. This has prompted Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun to recommend consumers consider other brands if they need a vehicle quickly. Lei suggested the Tesla Model Y, XPeng G7, and Li Auto i8 as alternatives [1].

The YU7's success is not without precedent. Xiaomi's SU7 electric sedan has already impacted Tesla Model 3 sales in China [1]. With the YU7, Xiaomi aims to challenge Tesla's dominance in the premium electric SUV segment. However, the long wait times for the YU7 may lead to increased demand for Tesla's Model Y, which has seen a decline in deliveries in China [1].

References:
[1] https://electrek.co/2025/08/12/chinese-evs-long-wait-time-has-ceo-urging-buyers-to-look-at-rivals/