Cover The SU7 Ultra is the world's fastest mass-produced four-door sedan (Photo: Xiaomi)
The SU7 Ultra is the world's fastest mass-produced four-door sedan (Photo: Xiaomi)
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Xiaomi and Huawei take the wheel as they go from being phone makers to car makers
As vehicles become increasingly sophisticated, the role of electronics has expanded far beyond simple convenience features. Today, advanced electronic systems are integral to every aspect of modern transportation—whether in internal combustion engines, hybrid vehicles, or fully electric models. From powertrains and chassis to safety systems, infotainment, and connectivity, the way a car functions is now deeply tied to its digital core. In fact, EVs and hybrids are less mechanical beasts and more like gadgets on wheels, merging cutting-edge automotive engineering with the rapid innovation of consumer tech.
Also read: The battle for EV dominance is shifting toward Asia. Here are the Chinese brands to watch out for
From phones to fast cars: Xiaomi’s entry into the EV market
Above Xiaomi SU7 (Photo: Xiaomi)
Xiaomi SU7 (Photo: Xiaomi)
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BYD, for example, started out as a battery manufacturer for cellphones—and now it’s the number 2 EV carmaker in the world. Making a similar leap from mobile devices to automobiles, Chinese phone maker Xiaomi started making its plans in 2021 when the company’s CEO, Lei Jun, announced that they would initially invest US$1.4 billion in creating an automobile division. Over the next ten years, they also plan to spend US$10 billion in total for the electric vehicle business.
Once known solely as a smartphone and consumer electronics leader, Xiaomi has made a bold leap into the automotive sector. The company announced its intentions in 2021, when CEO Lei Jun committed to an initial investment of US$1.4 billion to establish an EV division—with plans to increase that to US$10 billion over the next decade.
To fast-track development, Xiaomi partnered with Beijing-based automaker BAIC Group and brought on board Li Tianyuan, a former senior designer at BMW, to design its first electric vehicle: the SU7.
Xiaomi SU7: high performance meets high tech
In late 2023, Xiaomi unveiled the SU7, a premium all-electric sedan designed to rival the Tesla Model 3 and Porsche Taycan. Deliveries began in China in April 2024.
The all-wheel-drive SU7 Max offers serious performance credentials: dual motors, 0–100 km/h in 2.78 seconds, a top speed of 265 km/h, and an estimated range of 810 km. The rear-wheel-drive SU7 Standard achieves 0–100 km/h in 5.28 seconds, with a range of 700 km. The SU7 Pro variant bumps this up to 830 km.
Above The interior of the new SU7 Ultra (Photo: Xiaomi)
The interior of the new SU7 Ultra (Photo: Xiaomi)
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Xiaomi’s eye for tech is evident with the available equipment on higher models of the SU7 such as an active air suspension, active shutter grill and active rear wing. For advanced driving assist features (ADAS), the SU7 comes with the Xiaomi Pilot that uses an 11-camera system and an Nvidia Drive Orin computing platform with ultrasonic radar and roof-mounted LiDAR for object recognition and remote tracking.
The SU7 Ultra and what’s next
Above The SU7 Ultra is the world's fastest mass-produced four-door sedan (Photo: Xiaomi)
The SU7 Ultra is the world's fastest mass-produced four-door sedan (Photo: Xiaomi)
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In 2025, Xiaomi introduced the SU7 Ultra, a flagship model with a tri-motor layout, high-capacity battery, and a 630 km range. The car sprints from 0–100 km/h in just 1.98 seconds and tops out at 350 km/h, making it the world’s fastest mass-produced four-door EV sedan. It also features a track-optimised cooling system and carbon ceramic brakes for enhanced performance.
Above The SU7 beside the upcoming YU7 (Photo: Xiaomi)
The SU7 beside the upcoming YU7 (Photo: Xiaomi)
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CEO Lei Jun has also teased the upcoming YU7, a sporty EV SUV expected by mid-2025, to be offered in both single and dual motor configurations.
To date, Xiaomi has delivered over 200,000 SU7 units in China. With a 30-week waiting list for the standard model and a 14-week wait for the Ultra, domestic demand remains strong. Xiaomi president William Lu has confirmed plans to expand globally by 2027.
Huawei and the highway
Above Huawei CEO Ren Zhengfei (Photo: Huawei)
Huawei CEO Ren Zhengfei (Photo: Huawei)
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As a smartphone giant, few doubt the technological prowess of Huawei. In 2021, Huawei entered into a joint venture with the Seres Group, a Chinese automaker that’s partly owned by the Dongfeng Motor Corporation. The result of the partnership is the AITO brand of new energy vehicles (NEV). AITO stands for Adding Intelligence to Auto.
Unlike Xiaomi, Huawei's approach to making cars is quite different. The company has no plans of manufacturing vehicles on its own. Instead, it relies on a manufacturing partner such as Seres to create vehicles that are equipped with Huawei’s latest technologies. Among these technologies include autonomous driving systems and the HarmonyOS Cockpit both developed by Huawei. Apart from the software, the AITO vehicles also have deeper integration with Huawei with its use of the Kirin line of system-on-chips (SoC) hardware.
Above The AITO M5 crossover (Photo: AITO)
The AITO M5 crossover (Photo: AITO)
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AITO has four vehicles in its current lineup. The M5 compact crossover, the M7 mid-size SUV, the M8 full-size SUV and the M9 full-size luxury SUV. All four models are available as extended range electric vehicles (EREV) with the M5 and M9 also available as pure EVs.
Adding intelligence to automobiles
Above The AITO M9 flagship SUV from Huawei and Seres (Photo: AITO)
The AITO M9 flagship SUV from Huawei and Seres (Photo: AITO)
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The most notable vehicle in the lineup is AITO’s flagship model, the premium M9. The SUV is packed with tech such as the HarmonyOS intelligent cockpit, AI-powered advanced driving assistance system (ADAS), enhanced autonomous parking and remote driver assist. The EREV M9 has a combined range of 1239 km and 233 km in pure EV mode. The intelligent dual-motor AWD setup gives the vehicle a 0-100 km/h time of 4.9 seconds.
Inside the cabin, the integrated panoramic display combines the dashboard screen and infotainment system into one continuous screen. At the back, passengers can watch a movie on the retracting 32-inch laser projection screen or individually on four seat-mounted tablets. The M9’s Huawei Xpixel headlights can display images on the road or function like a movie projector.
Above AITO M9's integrated panoramic display (Photo: AITO)
AITO M9's integrated panoramic display (Photo: AITO)
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For its automotive business, Huawei’s focus is on the technology side of NEVs. AITO is currently available in more than 800 Huawei flagship stores across China. The car brand is also being introduced for the European market as well Asian markets such as the Philippines.
China’s top smartphone makers are rapidly transforming the global EV landscape. Xiaomi is going full throttle into high-performance electric cars, while Huawei is leveraging its technological prowess to enhance traditional manufacturing partnerships. Whether through hardware integration or software innovation, these tech giants are proving that the future of mobility lies at the intersection of electronics and engineering.
