Xiaomi’s hot new electric SUV, the YU7, sold like hotcakes—240,000 orders in just 18 hours. But the joy turned to rage when buyers found out the car won’t arrive for up to 60 weeks!
Customers who rushed to pay the non-refundable ¥5,000 ($698) deposit say they weren’t warned about the long wait. Complaints are piling up on China’s Black Cat consumer site, with over 400 angry buyers demanding refunds.
The official app, critics say, only showed the wait time after orders were locked in. With China’s EV tax break ending soon, many fear they’ll now pay more when their car finally arrives.
Xiaomi hasn’t commented yet, but CEO Lei Jun promised answers during a livestream on Wednesday.
This is Xiaomi’s second EV launch, following the SU7 sedan, which also faced delays—and controversy after a fatal crash earlier this year.
Despite the storm, Xiaomi is still aiming for Tesla’s crown. The YU7 is priced nearly 4% cheaper than the Model Y, and monthly production has jumped to 28,000 units.
