Exclusive: Xiaomi to Launch Four New Car Models, Two Extended-Range, Next Year – 36Kr – 36Kr
Text | Xu Caiyu
Editor | Li Qin
In 2026, Xiaomi’s automotive product offensive is swift and precise.
36Kr has learned from industry sources that Xiaomi plans to launch four new cars next year, namely the updated version of SU7, the executive version of SU7, an extended – range five – seat SUV, and an extended – range seven – seat SUV.
A person familiar with the matter revealed that the updated version of SU7 and the extended – range seven – seat SUV are initially planned to be launched in the first half of the year, while the executive version of SU7 and the extended – range five – seat SUV are scheduled to be launched from the second half of the year to the end of the year.
In October this year, Lei Jun and a group of Xiaomi executives went to Xinjiang for vehicle testing. During this period, there were continuous revelations of spy photos of camouflaged new Xiaomi cars. From the photos posted by netizens, it can be seen that this is an almost full – size SUV model with an engine exhaust pipe at the rear.
Based on these clues, it is highly likely that this road – tested new Xiaomi car is the extended – range seven – seat SUV model to be launched next year.
According to 36Kr, the internal code name of this extended – range seven – seat SUV is “Kunlun”. It is positioned similarly to Li L9 and Leapmotor D19, and is a mid – to large – sized SUV designed for the family market. It will adopt a “large battery” power plan with a battery capacity of over 70 kWh, with a pure – electric driving range of 400 – 500 kilometers.
The person familiar with the matter told 36Kr that Xiaomi is also planning an extended – range five – seat SUV model. “In the current plan, the estimated production volume of both extended – range vehicles is quite large.”
The executive version of SU7 is a long – wheelbase sedan based on SU7. “The wheelbase has been significantly lengthened, and there are many comfort improvements in the rear row,” a person familiar with the matter told 36Kr.
By the end of 2025, Xiaomi had initially established a foothold with SU7 and YU7. Not only has the cumulative delivery exceeded 500,000 units, but it has also successfully completed the business cycle and achieved single – quarter profitability.
However, in the face of Lei Jun’s ambitious goal of “ranking among the top five in the world within 15 – 20 years”, the existing sales volume and single – market audience are obviously far from enough. Both the products and sales of Xiaomi cars need to “break through the circle” further.
Therefore, the currently hottest extended – range SUV market in the Chinese auto market has become Xiaomi’s strategic choice.
The Chinese auto market is mainly driven by family demand. These users have clear pursuits for vehicle space, energy consumption performance, and the increasingly important intelligent experience.
The core positioning of extended – range SUVs is “all – around” and “anxiety – free”. It is mainly targeted at family users. It not only solves the shortcomings of pure – electric models in terms of range and charging, but also, based on the pure – electric drive platform, comprehensively outperforms traditional fuel – powered vehicles in terms of intelligent experience.
After the great success of extended – range SUVs such as the Li L series and the AITO M series, automakers are very enthusiastic about such extended – range SUVs.
In 2025, more than 15 new extended – range vehicles were launched in the Chinese market, including models such as IM LS6 and Voyah Taishan. BMW was reported to have restarted the research and development of extended – range power, and XPeng Motors will launch seven new models with extended – range power next year.
In 2026, the “large – battery” hybrid solution will become a new competitive direction.
36Kr previously reported that among the new plug – in hybrid vehicles to be launched next year, more than four new models are planned to use 80 kWh – class power batteries, including Leapmotor D19 and Xiaomi’s extended – range SUV models. These “large – battery” extended – range new cars will have a pure – electric driving range of nearly 500 kilometers, significantly enhancing their market competitiveness.
Actually, Xiaomi has long been making preparations for extended – range technology.
36Kr previously reported that Wang Chuan, a co – founder of Xiaomi, is an individual investor in Li Auto and has had a lot of exchanges with Li Xiang, the CEO of Li Auto. Wang Chuan participated in a sharing session during the training for middle – and high – level executives of Xiaomi Auto.
As early as October 2023, Xiaomi sent a clear signal of entering the extended – range field through recruitment websites. Now, there are more than 20 extended – range – related positions continuously being recruited on its official website, covering various categories from product, R & D, testing, calibration to procurement, indicating that Xiaomi is building a comprehensive team for the extended – range technology system.
For Xiaomi, the extended – range vehicle market is still in a window period, and the technical structure and R & D cost are relatively low. Deploying new extended – range vehicles will greatly help maintain its sales momentum.
From 2024 to 2025, Xiaomi Auto presented a report card of high – speed growth.
The cumulative delivery of the first model, SU7, exceeded 200,000 units in 348 days after its launch, making it the world’s fastest – growing new energy vehicle to reach this milestone. For the second model, YU7, which was launched in June 2025, the large – deposit orders exceeded 200,000 units in just three minutes after its launch, and the cumulative delivery exceeded 110,000 units six months after its launch.
In November this year, the 500,000th Xiaomi car rolled off the production line. It took NIO six years to reach 500,000 units from 0, Li Auto less than four years, while Xiaomi achieved the same feat in just one year and seven months. In the third quarter of this year, the gross profit margin per Xiaomi car reached 25.5%, and it achieved single – quarter profitability for the first time.
Although Xiaomi Auto’s sales are eye – catching, there are still some potential crises.
Models such as SU7 and YU7 have become very popular, but their audience profiles are relatively concentrated. The core sales come from the large base of “Mi fans” and young pioneer users who are highly sensitive to technology and performance.
However, looking at the Chinese auto market, it is the much larger group of family users who really determine the long – term sales volume and market position of an automaker. Their needs for cars are comprehensive and practical: they need a spacious space for multi – person travel, convenient range and charging solutions for all scenarios, and a reliable and intelligent car – using experience.
Only by successfully entering this mainstream market can emerging auto brands achieve long – term and stable sales volume. The two planned extended – range SUVs of Xiaomi are not simply supplements to the product line, but a key signal for Xiaomi Auto to break through the circle strategically and enter the mainstream family market.
In this market, Xiaomi will directly face competitors such as Li Auto and AITO, which have established a solid reputation among family users.
In April this year, the cumulative delivery of the Li L series exceeded 1 million units. The extended – range five – seat SUV model, Li L6, has performed outstandingly, with a cumulative sales volume of 153,800 units this year, and it is expected to rank among the top ten in the Chinese SUV sales list in 2025.
Backed by Huawei, AITO has established a foothold in the 300,000 – 500,000 – yuan market with the iron – triangle lineup of M7, M8, and M9, and has won the sales championships in multiple niche markets.
However, Xiaomi is by no means an ordinary challenger. In the 200,000 – 300,000 – yuan pure – electric market, Xiaomi is the first domestic brand in recent years to successfully break Tesla’s monopoly in terms of both sales volume and popularity.
When Xiaomi uses its product concept of “technology + cost – effectiveness” and efficient traffic – based marketing to enter the family car market, the threat it poses to Li Auto and AITO is specific and real. The family car market may also break the duopoly pattern and enter a new stage of competition.
In 2026, with the launch of extended – range SUVs and executive sedans, Xiaomi’s development model will undergo a transformation: from the “blitzkrieg” relying on a single product to the “normalized competition” that tests the systematic capabilities.
This is a coming – of – age ceremony for Xiaomi Auto to move from a “net celebrity” brand to a “mainstream” brand. In the future, what will test Xiaomi is not only its ability to create hit products, but also its comprehensive strength in the entire chain, including production capacity allocation, supply chain management, brand reshaping, and user service.
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