• The new base model of the YU7 was planned three years ago but canceled at the last minute before the SUV’s launch.
• Xiaomi aims to further challenge Tesla’s Model Y with this lower-priced YU7 variant.

Xiaomi (HKEX: 1810) announced Tuesday the official start of deliveries for the new standard edition of its YU7 sport utility vehicle (SUV), a model starting at 233,500 yuan ($34,410) that will further challenge Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) Model Y.

Xiaomi’s electric vehicle (EV) unit, Xiaomi EV, reiterated today that the base YU7 model features the SUV series’ family design, robust configurations, long range, and fast charging capabilities.

The current delivery pace for the YU7 series is exceptionally fast, with buyers of in-stock vehicles able to receive their cars in as little as two hours, according to Xiaomi EV.

Buyers who place orders for the YU7 standard edition before June 30, 2026, can enjoy a five-year low-interest loan and free lifetime access to the HAD (Hyper Autonomous Driving) system.

Xiaomi founder, chairman, and CEO Lei Jun admitted at a launch event last week that canceling this standard edition last year was a mistake.

The relaunched version was actually planned three years ago but was scrapped at the last minute before hitting the market, Lei said.

The Xiaomi CEO said at the May 21 launch event that the latest move is aimed at challenging the sales of Tesla’s Model Y in China once again.

The older YU7 standard edition has been renamed the YU7 long range edition, with its starting price remaining at 253,500 yuan.

The new YU7 standard edition is equipped with a 73.0-kilowatt-hour lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, offering a CLTC (China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle) pure electric range of 643 kilometers. The vehicle can charge from 10% to 80% in just 20 minutes.

It is also powered by the Xiaomi V6s Plus motor, utilizing a rear-mounted single-motor layout that can accelerate from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in 5.9 seconds.

The model comes standard with high-spec hardware across the lineup. This includes LiDAR, 4D millimeter-wave radar, and an Nvidia Thor chip with 700 TOPS of computing power.

By comparison, the Tesla Model Y starts at 263,500 yuan in the Chinese market. Its entry-level rear-wheel-drive version features a 62.5-kWh battery pack and a CLTC range of 593 kilometers.

The new YU7 standard edition demonstrates direct competitive intent in both price and range.

The Xiaomi YU7 originally launched in June last year and quickly gained market recognition. As of April 30, 2026, the model had accumulated 232,000 deliveries within 10 months of its launch.

In April this year, Xiaomi delivered a total of 36,702 vehicles, with the YU7 contributing 9,876 units. The decline in the SUV’s deliveries was primarily due to the newly commenced deliveries of the next-generation SU7 electric sedan.

The Xiaomi YU7 GT starts at 389,900 yuan ($57,290) and is aimed at the premium market.

($1 = 6.7857 yuan)