Xiaomi Prices Luxury Electric Sedan 35% Lower than Initially Promoted

Staff members stand near the company logo at a Xiaomi store in Shanghai, China November 1, 2021. Picture taken November 1, 2021. REUTERS/Aly Song
Staff members stand near the company logo at a Xiaomi store in Shanghai, China November 1, 2021. Picture taken November 1, 2021. REUTERS/Aly Song
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Xiaomi Prices Luxury Electric Sedan 35% Lower than Initially Promoted

Staff members stand near the company logo at a Xiaomi store in Shanghai, China November 1, 2021. Picture taken November 1, 2021. REUTERS/Aly Song
Staff members stand near the company logo at a Xiaomi store in Shanghai, China November 1, 2021. Picture taken November 1, 2021. REUTERS/Aly Song

Chinese electric vehicle maker Xiaomi on Thursday priced its luxury electric sedan, the SU7 Ultra, from 529,900 yuan ($72,931.72).

The final price of the car, announced by founder Lei Jun at an event streamed live from Beijing, is 35% lower than the initial sticker price of 814,900 yuan for pre-orders when the car made its debut at the end of October, Reuters reported.

A limited-edition of the luxury EV, whose specifications are yet to be disclosed, still sells for 814,900 yuan.

Buyers placing orders for the SU7 Ultra before the end of March are entitled to perks including lifelong free access to Xiaomi HAD end-to-end intelligent driving system that retails for 26,000 yuan, said Lei.

He made reference to Tesla's update to its autopilot software in China, which "has gone viral over the past two days, but still needs (users) to pay more than 60,000 yuan."

Xiaomi will start delivery to users as soon as possible after the official launch, the company said.



US Auto Sales Set to Modestly Rise in First Quarter as Tariffs Signal Bumpy Ride

New vehicles are seen at a parking lot in the Port of Richmond, at the bay of San Francisco, California June 8, 2023. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo
New vehicles are seen at a parking lot in the Port of Richmond, at the bay of San Francisco, California June 8, 2023. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo
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US Auto Sales Set to Modestly Rise in First Quarter as Tariffs Signal Bumpy Ride

New vehicles are seen at a parking lot in the Port of Richmond, at the bay of San Francisco, California June 8, 2023. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo
New vehicles are seen at a parking lot in the Port of Richmond, at the bay of San Francisco, California June 8, 2023. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo

US auto sales likely inched higher in the first three months of the year on steady demand, data from the carmakers will show on Tuesday, as the industry braces for the fallout of President Donald Trump's latest tariffs.

Market research firm Cox Automotive has estimated that US new-vehicle sales volume increased 0.6% to 3.79 million units in the first quarter from a year earlier.

"Automotive tariffs — now set to take effect on April 2 — might have pulled ahead some vehicle purchases in Q1," said Jessica Caldwell, head of insights at automotive data provider Edmunds.

General Motors pickup trucks and SUVs are expected to help it retain its top spot in the quarter, followed by Toyota Motor's North America unit and Ford, according to Cox, Reuters reported.

Electric-vehicle maker Tesla is also forecast to report a drop in first-quarter vehicle deliveries on Wednesday.

President Trump's move to levy tariffs on US auto imports is widely seen as weighing on consumer sentiment and forcing a rethink on purchases.

The tariffs could also reduce the number of lower-cost imported vehicles on the market, such as Ford's compact Maverick pickup truck, further straining affordability as the average new-vehicle price nears $50,000.

"The potential for higher inflation due to new tariffs at American borders will all potentially hold back new-vehicle sales in 2025," Cox said.

Caldwell said tariffs would likely create challenges for the industry in the second quarter and beyond and expects discounts to be "harder to come by".