Lei Jun on Xiaomi's Entry into Extended-Range EVs: Market Not Saturated, Demand Is Real

On July 29, Lei Jun, founder, chairman, and CEO of Xiaomi Group, addressed public questions regarding Xiaomi's decision to launch extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs) and whether it was entering the market too late. He explained that Xiaomi’s SU7 and YU7 series are positioned as “driver’s cars,” prioritizing ultimate handling and driving dynamics, which is why they follow a pure-electric route. In contrast, the newly introduced Pengcheng series is designed as a smart, spacious SUV with flexible interior configurations, emphasizing long range, high practicality, and charging flexibility—making extended-range technology a better fit for its product definition. Lei noted that large, boxy SUVs using a pure-electric solution would require massive battery packs to achieve sufficient range, significantly increasing vehicle weight and consequently compromising energy efficiency and real-world range—a fundamental physical constraint. By comparison, the extended-range approach effectively balances space, range, and energy consumption. Regarding concerns about entering the market “too late,” Lei argued that the EREV segment remains far from saturated. Citing Li Auto’s latest L6 model as an example, he pointed out that its sales have continued to rise since launch without cannibalizing sales of the brand’s other models, demonstrating genuine and robust consumer demand for quality EREVs. He also highlighted several upgrades in Xiaomi’s Pengcheng series EREV technology: - CLTC-rated all-electric range reaches up to 505 km, enabling weekly charging for typical daily commutes; - Fuel consumption in range-extender mode is as low as 5.7 L/100 km for the N70 series and 6.26 L/100 km for the N90 AWD variant; - Cabin quietness approaches that of pure-electric vehicles; - The range extender is compatible with 92-octane gasoline or higher, with a maintenance interval of three years or 30,000 km of range-extender operation. Lei emphasized that neither extended-range nor pure-electric solutions is inherently superior—the key lies in delivering an exceptional user experience. Xiaomi will hold a dedicated Pengcheng series technology launch event on July 30 to provide further details on its extended-range system.