Xiaomi starts YU7 SUV deliveries; wait times increase to over a year

Xiaomi has started deliveries of its first electric SUV, the YU7, across 58 Chinese cities, but production bottlenecks have stretched wait times to as long as 14 months. The model recorded over 240,000 orders within 18 hours of launch, intensifying capacity constraints.

The company began handing over the YU7 to customers in 58 cities today, with founder Lei Jun personally presenting vehicles to some early buyers. Despite this high-profile rollout, the waiting period for new orders has stretched to as long as 14 months.

According to data tracked by Chinese media outlet CnEVPost, customers opting for the standard YU7 now face a delivery window of 59 to 62 weeks, up from 58 to 61 weeks last Friday. The wait times for the Pro and Max variants have also extended to 53–56 weeks and 45–48 weeks respectively. In contrast, Xiaomi’s SU7 sedan series is seeing mixed wait time developments, with its standard version now at 38–41 weeks, up from 33–36 weeks, while the Pro, Max, and Ultra variants have experienced shortened waiting periods.

The YU7 launch at the end of June triggered an immediate wave of demand. Xiaomi say that it received 200,000 firm orders within three minutes and surpassed the 240,000 locked-in orders within 18 hours. Its competitive pricing, starting at RMB 253,500 (around 30,000 euros), positions it directly against Tesla’s Model Y. Xiaomi moved swiftly to produce initial units and enable direct order locking, accelerating the first wave of deliveries. However, it remains unclear when deliveries of customised configurations will begin, with previous indications suggesting August.

Industry watchers had speculated that the YU7 might cannibalise sales of Xiaomi’s SU7 sedan, but Lei Jun downplayed such concerns during a recent livestream, noting that less than 15 per cent of YU7 orders were transferred from SU7 or SU7 Ultra reservations.

Xiaomi’s EV production capacity remains under strain. Its existing phase 1 facility in Beijing, with an annual capacity of 150,000 units, adopted a two-shift production regime in June to meet surging SU7 demand. Meanwhile, preparations for mass production at the phase 2 factory are underway. Local media suggest this new facility could begin operations as early as July or August, following completion in mid-June. The carmaker also recently acquired an additional lot that could house the third phase of its EV plant.

Xiaomi’s first electric model, the SU7, hit the road in March 2024 and has enjoyed great popularity. The company repeatedly raised its delivery target for 2024. And in Q1/2025 alone, it delivered 75,869 units, bringing the total number of delivered SU7 series vehicles to 258,000 units by the end of March 2025. The ramp-up of YU7 deliveries alongside continued strong SU7 demand further intensifies Xiaomi’s operational challenges as it seeks to establish itself as a credible competitor in China’s crowded premium EV market.

cnevpost.com, carnewschina.com