BARCELONA — On Sunday, March 2, 2025, Xiaomi President William Lu dropped a bombshell at Mobile World Congress (MWC): the Chinese tech giant plans to sell its electric vehicles (EVs) outside China “within the next few years.” Announced alongside the global debut of the premium Xiaomi 15 Ultra smartphone, Lu’s tease signals Xiaomi’s intent to take on Tesla and other EV titans on the world stage. While details remain sparse, the move—paired with the unveiling of the SU7 Ultra—underscores Xiaomi’s skyrocketing ambitions beyond its smartphone roots.
SU7 Ultra: A Premium EV Powerhouse
Xiaomi’s latest EV, the SU7 Ultra, launched this week in China at 529,000 yuan ($72,627), and it’s already a hit—racking up 15,000 orders in just 24 hours. Showcased at MWC’s bustling Xiaomi booth, this high-performance beast builds on the success of the original SU7, which rolled out in March 2024 and delivered over 100,000 units in its first year. Lu kept global rollout timelines vague, saying only, “I cannot share too many details, but I am so excited to tell our global users that Xiaomi will be releasing EVs for sale in global markets within the next few years.”
Posts on X are abuzz with speculation—will the SU7 Ultra hit Europe or the U.S. first? With a sleek design and specs rivaling Tesla’s Model 3 Performance (think 0-100 km/h in under 3 seconds, per leaks), it’s a tantalizing preview of Xiaomi’s global EV playbook.
From Smartphones to EVs: Xiaomi’s Winning Streak
Best known as the world’s third-largest smartphone vendor, Xiaomi entered the EV game in 2021, leveraging its tech prowess and supply chain muscle. The SU7’s 2024 success—outpacing some Chinese rivals like NIO—proves it’s no gimmick. Coupled with a smartphone market rebound and the Xiaomi 15 Ultra’s MWC launch (aimed at Samsung’s Galaxy S25), the company’s Hong Kong-listed stock has soared nearly 300% in the past year, hitting record highs this week.
“The SU7 has given Xiaomi a massive brand boost,” IDC’s Francisco Jeronimo told CNBC earlier this year. Displaying the SU7 Ultra at MWC—where it stole the show alongside the Xiaomi 15 series—reinforces that halo effect, even if it’s not yet for sale outside China.
Taking on Tesla Globally
Xiaomi’s global EV push pits it against Tesla, the undisputed EV king with a $1 trillion-plus valuation. Tesla’s Model Y topped global sales in 2024, but Xiaomi’s pricing (the SU7 starts at $30,000 in China) and tech integration could disrupt markets like Europe, where EV adoption is surging. Posts on X highlight Xiaomi’s edge: its ecosystem of phones, wearables, and now cars could mirror Tesla’s software-first approach—only cheaper.
Challenges loom, though—export logistics, tariffs (especially under Trump’s watch), and regulatory hurdles could delay the timeline. Still, Lu’s confidence suggests Xiaomi’s got a plan brewing.
What’s Next for Xiaomi in 2025?
With the SU7 Ultra turning heads at MWC and the Xiaomi 15 Ultra gunning for Samsung, Xiaomi’s dual-track strategy—EVs and premium phones—is firing on all cylinders. Global EV sales might be a year or two out, but the buzz is immediate. Will Xiaomi carve a slice of Tesla’s pie, or will Samsung fend off the phone threat first? As its stock soars and MWC crowds swarm, Xiaomi’s 2025 looks electrifying. Stay tuned for more from Barcelona and beyond!
