Chongqing — Xiaomi marked its 15th anniversary recently with a bold Beijing launch, unveiling a new EV and in-house chip, just a month after CEO Lei Jun called it the toughest time since founding the company.
Lei Jun vows to build safest-in-class Xiaomi vehicle
A fatal crash involving Xiaomi’s SU7 in Anhui Province on March 29 left three dead, fueling public concern over the safety of its vehicles and assisted driving systems.
The incident also drew the attention of Chinese regulators. On April 16, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) convened a meeting with major automakers, urging them to strengthen testing and validation of combined driver-assistance systems, clearly define system boundaries, and avoid exaggerated or misleading marketing.
In the aftermath, Lei remained silent on social media—a rare move for the usually outspoken executive. On May 10, he broke his silence, stating on Weibo, “The past month has been the most difficult period since I founded Xiaomi.”
Days later, a video of Lei speaking at an internal company meeting circulated online. In it, he said, “We’ve been hit by a storm of doubt, criticism, and accusations. At 15 years old, Xiaomi is no longer a newcomer—our industry no longer grants us a grace period.” He pledged that Xiaomi would strive to build “the safest vehicle in its class.”
The mounting public scrutiny placed Xiaomi in the spotlight and further amplified attention on the company’s 15th anniversary product launch. At the event, Xiaomi unveiled its first self-developed system-on-chip (SoC), the Xring O1, alongside the debut of its latest electric SUV, YU7.
Xiaomi emphasized safety and intelligent assisted driving as core upgrades to its new electric SUV, the YU7. All variants of the YU7 come equipped with advanced driver-assistance features, including NVIDIA’s Thor chip, a LiDAR sensor, and a 4D millimeter-wave radar. Structural integrity has also been enhanced through the use of high-strength steel and reinforced crash beams.
While full details and pricing for the YU7 will be announced in July, Lei confirmed that the starting price will be at least 199,000 yuan (USD 27,714).
The company also unveiled its first 3nm system-on-chip, the Xring O1, arriving four years after Xiaomi revived its in-house chip initiative. Built using TSMC’s advanced N3E 3nm process, also used in Apple’s A18 and A18 Pro chips, the Xring O1 powers the new Xiaomi 15s Pro smartphone and Pad 7 Ultra tablet.
Although the company did not address the recent challenges directly during the launch, Xiaomi introduced an "Advanced Driving Training Program" aimed at improving user driving skills and safety awareness.
The program, which is free for the first 10,000 vehicle owners, covers techniques such as acceleration control, emergency braking, lane changes, and obstacle avoidance. Lei shared his personal takeaway from the training: “When facing an emergency on the road, it’s best to brake hard—that’s what I’ve learned.”
The Xiaomi Yu7 shines in emerald green. (Photo/Xiaomi)
Xiaomi's new product buzz meets mixed reactions online
On the global platform X (formerly Twitter), Xiaomi and Lei Jun’s official accounts have remained silent on the Xring O1, a move interpreted as a strategic choice to avoid geopolitical sensitivities reminiscent of Huawei’s chip-related sanctions.
Tech influencer ICE CAT’s post on Xiaomi’s new chip sparked debate—some praised the leap into high-end development as a boost to global competition, while others doubted the chip’s true innovation.
Tech influencer ICE CAT’s post about Xiaomi’s new Xring O1 chip on May 15 garnered 97,300 views. X user AndyT welcomed the move, saying more competition in the chip market is a good thing. (Photo/X)
X user Chai Tea questioned whether Xiaomi’s Xring O1 chip is fully self-developed, suggesting some components may have been outsourced. (Photo/ X)
On China’s Weibo, reactions to the Xring O1 chip were split—some hailed its technical strides, others questioned its originality. A top comment under Lei Jun’s post hinted that much of the criticism might stem from a coordinated smear campaign.
Xiaomi’s legal department announced on May 19 that a criminal group involved in orchestrated online defamation had been apprehended. According to the statement, the group used AI-generated fake content and manipulated nearly 10,000 social media accounts to spread misinformation, particularly targeting hot topics such as Xiaomi EVs.
The YU7 also sparked intense online discussion. On platform X, Lei Jun’s post featuring the YU7 garnered nearly 101,000 views, with some users expressing eagerness for the car’s international availability. Others, however, questioned its resemblance to Ferrari’s designs.
X user Scoof commented on Lei Jun's post, praising the Xiaomi YU7 and saying it did a great job. (Photo/X)
X user Spacefortech questioned whether the exterior of Xiaomi's YU7 resembles that of luxury brands like Ferrari. (Photo/X)
In another post by influencer Sawyer Merritt with over 164,000 views, comments drew comparisons between the YU7 and the Tesla Model Y, with many seeing it as a serious challenger, though some again raised design originality concerns.
Similar debates unfolded on Weibo, where users both applauded YU7’s intelligent features and criticized its exterior for resembling luxury models such as Ferrari. Ongoing dissatisfaction also surfaced over the SU7 Ultra’s carbon fiber hood, which some users claim was misleadingly advertised. Although Xiaomi offered compensation or customization options, a number of users are reportedly pursuing legal action.
Coincidentally, Ferrari China posted images on its official account on the same day as the Xiaomi launch, featuring models with color schemes resembling the YU7’s green edition—prompting further speculation about coincidental timing or potential design overlap.