On December 28, 2023, Xiaomi Automobile held a technology conference, and the long-awaited Xiaomi SU7 also made its debut. Xiaomi SU7 is positioned as a pure electric mid-size car, and it is equipped with Xiaomi’s super electric motor, self-developed CTB（Cell to Body) battery technology, automatic driving technology, and Modena platform architecture, among many other new technological products.
In terms of power, the dual-motor version of the Xiaomi SU7 has a maximum power of 673 horsepower and a 0-100km/h acceleration of 2.78 seconds. It is equipped with a 101kWh battery from CATL, with a range of 800km. The single-motor version of the car is expected to be released in the future.
This conference was a major event for Xiaomi Automobile, and Lei Jun showcased the company’s technological breakthroughs over the past 1,000 days of development. The conference covered five areas of technology, including Xiaomi’s super electric motor, self-developed CTB battery technology, super-large die-casting, automatic driving technology, and Modena platform architecture.
Xiaomi Super Electric Motor
At the conference, Xiaomi introduced its self-developed super electric motor, which has made innovations in rotor materials, stators, and silicon carbide technologies. The motor is divided into three models: HyperEngine V8s, V6, and V6s. The V6 has a maximum power of 299 horsepower, a peak torque of 400N·m, and uses a 400V architecture. The V6s has a maximum power of 374 horsepower, a peak torque of 500N·m, and uses an 800V architecture. The V8s has a maximum power of 578 horsepower, a peak torque of 635N·m, and a maximum efficiency of 98.11%. The power density is 10.14kw/kg, and it will be on the market in 2025. In addition, Xiaomi has developed a super electric motor rotor pre-research technology, which has achieved a maximum rotation speed of 35,000rpm in the laboratory.
Xiaomi Self-Developed CTB Battery Technology
The Xiaomi SU7 uses an 871V silicon carbide high-voltage platform, with an integration efficiency of 77.8%. In the mature system, it can support a maximum capacity of 132kWh, achieving a CLTC range of 1000+km. The platform’s upper limit can support a maximum capacity of 150kWh, with a CLTC range of 1200km. Xiaomi has independently developed CTB (Cell to Body) battery technology. In key technological innovation, it adopts the integration of the floor and the cover, the inversion of the battery cells, the multifunctional elastic layer, and the ultra-simple wiring harness, which has increased the overall integration efficiency by 24.4%.
Super-Large Die-Casting Technology
Xiaomi has independently designed a “9100-ton integrated large die-casting equipment cluster system”, from aluminum ingots to finished castings, all self-developed and manufactured. It includes 9 major processes, 60 devices, and precisely controls 433 process parameters. It realizes that the rear floor of Xiaomi Automobile is integrated with 72 parts, the number of welding points is reduced by 840, the weight is reduced by 17%, and the production time is reduced by 45%.
Automatic Driving Technology
In August 2022, Xiaomi showed off its self-driving capabilities. It can achieve unassisted automatic U-turns, automatic right turns, automatic detours, automatic bypassing of accident vehicles, automatic circling around islands, and pedestrian courtesy at zebra crossings. It can also autonomously parking (including find parking space), automatically bypass 90-degree sharp curves, and automatically charge with a mechanical arm.
Today, Xiaomi’s automatic driving assistance has made breakthrough progress. The Xiaomi automatic driving system is equipped with 1 lidar, 11 high-definition cameras, 3 millimeter-wave radars, and 12 ultrasonic radars. The chip is equipped with two NVIDIA DRIVE Orin chips, with a computing power of up to 508TOPS. The Xiaomi SU7 is equipped with a full-stack self-developed intelligent driving technology that supports zoom BEV, road super-large models, and super-resolution occupancy networks.
Xiaomi Automobile Modena Platform Architecture
Xiaomi Automobile’s “Modena” platform architecture starts from the bottom-up technology and adopts forward development. It is composed of product attributes, standardization system, and bottom-layer technology modules. The platform allows Xiaomi Automobile to achieve a moose test score of 82km/h, a whole-vehicle torsional stiffness of 51,000N·m/deg, a battery volume efficiency of 77.8%, and a motor peak efficiency of 99.81%, creating a number of firsts in the industry.
Xiaomi HyperOS
On December 27, 2023, Xiaomi HyperOS launched a new logo and appeared before everyone with a new image. Pumped OS is the largest-scale bottom-up reconstruction in the history of Xiaomi systems. This system is not only suitable for mobile phones and smart homes, but also upgraded to the entire ecosystem of people, cars, and homes. Xiaomi also introduced NPU technology, which allows its large models to be deployed on the terminal rather than the cloud, realizing the real on-board large models.
Xiaomi’s New Strategy: “People-Car-Home All-Ecology”
Lei Jun said that with the release of the Xiaomi SU7, the “people-car-home all-ecology” has finally been closed, marking a “leap” moment. This means that the company has fully connected the “people-car” and “home” scenarios, achieving seamless connection and real-time collaboration between hardware devices. This will also help to drive partners in the industrial chain to jointly create a super-intelligent ecosystem centered on people and actively serving people.
Xiaomi HyperOS, with the Xiaomi HyperConnect cross-platform interconnection framework, has connected more than 200 categories of products, including Xiaomi Automobile, and efficiently connected over 6 billion devices worldwide. This covers over 95% of users’ daily life scenarios, allowing intelligence to serve each individual in a more meticulous and sophisticated way.
At the same time, the empowerment of AI will make the “people-car-home all-ecology” even smarter through the operation habits of users. Xiaomi HyperMind, as the intelligent center, can perceive and learn users’ daily habits, providing active intelligent services. Over time, Xiaomi HyperOS will become an intelligent center that understands you better without you even realizing it.
Xiaomi SU7
The official images of the Xiaomi SU7 have been released, so let’s take a look at this new car. The official said that the new car’s headlights adopt a “mi”-shaped design. In the current market, where many cars have small eyes, the big eyes of the Xiaomi SU7 can be said to be “rare”. The headlights adopt a rounded polygonal shape, with a similar “mi”-shaped lamp cavity structure inside, which improves the recognition. In addition, there are real air ducts below the headlights to help the brake system dissipate heat, the underbody and the engine hood highlight the sporty feel, with a bit of a sports car vibe. In addition, the car’s drag coefficient is only 0.195Cd.
Looking from the side, the new car does not use hidden door handles. It is equipped with two different petal-shaped wheels and yellow calipers, which look young and lively. From the rear, the logo is consistent with Xiaomi’s logo, and the spelling of “xiaomi” at the rear highlights its identity. The silver trim on the rear bumper highlights the sense of power, and the active rear wing further enhances the sporty atmosphere. In terms of body size, the length/width/height are 4997/1963/1440mm, and the wheelbase is 3000mm.
In terms of power, the dual-motor version of the Xiaomi SU7 has a maximum power of 673 horsepower and a peak torque of 838N·m. It can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 2.78 seconds and has a top speed of 265km/h. It also has Boost mode and launch control mode. The braking system is equipped with four-piston Brembo calipers, and the braking distance from 100 to 0km/h is 33.3m. The SU7 is equipped with a 101kWh ternary lithium battery from CATL, with a range of 800km. The new car is equipped with 800V super-fast charging, which can charge 220km of range in 5 minutes and 510km of range in 15 minutes. According to previous news, the SU7 will also launch a single-motor version, with a motor power of 220kW and a phosphate iron lithium battery from Fudi. The new car is expected to launch multiple range versions, divided into standard, Pro, and Max versions. Four range versions are available: 628km, 668km, 800km, and 750km.
Let’s take a look at the interior of the new car. It is equipped with a three-spoke steering wheel, with red trim around the driving mode switch buttons, which highlights the sporty feel. In terms of screens, the new car uses a 7.1-inch flip-up instrument panel and a 16.1-inch central control screen, with a resolution of 3K, and a 56-inch HUD with a maximum brightness of 13,000nit. In addition, the SU7 also retains most of the physical buttons, making it easier to operate common functions.
The interior of the Xiaomi SU7 will be available in three color options: Galaxy Gray, Obsidian Black, and Twilight Red. In addition, it will be equipped with ambient lighting, sporty Nappa leather seats, a 5.35 square meter glass roof, and a 15-speaker sound system. In addition, the new car has a large front trunk of 105L.
In terms of the car-machine system, Xiaomi Pumped OS will be installed in the SU7’s car-machine system. The Xiaomi SU7 is equipped with the Snapdragon 8295 chip. The Xiaomi tablet can be seamlessly connected to the car and used as a rear-seat extended screen. The Xiaomi SU7 supports five-screen linkage, and the application ecosystem covers mainstream in-vehicle applications, tablet applications, and mobile applications. It supports CarPlay and AirPlay, and supports Apple iPad on board.
In addition, the Xiaomi CarloT ecosystem will be fully open to third parties. It has a unified standard interface, the richest communication standard protocols, and a lightweight retrofit solution for existing devices. In addition, Xiaomi’s innovative application streaming upgrade technology makes OTA upgrades faster. The cabin system can be upgraded in one package in 3 minutes, and the entire car can be upgraded in one package in 30 minutes.
In terms of channels, Xiaomi is expected to adopt a similar model to the AITO series, which sells cars through Huawei stores. Xiaomi stores are located in major cities across China, and they offer a variety of products and services, including smartphones, laptops, TVs, and smart home devices. By placing cars in Xiaomi stores, Xiaomi can reach a wider audience and generate more sales.
A staff member at a Xiaomi store in Shanghai Xujiahui said that the exhibition car will arrive at the store in the first quarter of next year. This suggests that Xiaomi is gearing up for the launch of the SU7.
Xiaomi’s Automotive History
Here is a brief timeline of Xiaomi’s automotive history:
- March 30, 2021: Xiaomi founder Lei Jun announced in a public speech that the company would invest $10 billion in electric vehicles over the next decade, and that he would personally oversee the automotive business.
- September 2021: Xiaomi Automobile Co., Ltd. was incorporated. On November 27, 2021, the Beijing Economic and Technological Development Area Administration and Xiaomi signed a cooperation agreement, announcing that Xiaomi Automobile would be based in the Beijing Economic and Technological Development Area.
- March 2022: Xiaomi Automobile announced that its first mass-produced car would go into production in the first half of 2024.
- August 2022: At the 500th day since Xiaomi entered the electric vehicle industry, Lei Jun announced at the autumn product launch that Xiaomi Automobile’s latest progress was to enter the first echelon of the automotive autonomous driving industry by 2024.
- 2023: Spy photos, design drawings, and images from media and individuals of Xiaomi Automobile began to gradually leak out.
- November 2023: Xiaomi SU7 was approved by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
- December 2023: Xiaomi announced that it had been in the automotive industry for 1000 days, and that its first launch event would be held today.
Editor’s Commentary
After so many years in the automotive industry, I once believed that “there is nothing new under the sun.” However, I have to say that Xiaomi’s launch event was indeed a long-awaited pleasure. In the end of 2023, when the new forces have become old hands, this newcomer has brought back the fun of the past.
The editor’s commentary is interesting. It suggests that Xiaomi’s entry into the automotive industry has disrupted the status quo and brought a new sense of excitement to the industry.
