What you need to know about the Chinese EV loved by Ford’s CEO — and why you can’t get it in the US

The SU7 is Xiaomi’s first vehicle since the Chinese smartphone and consumer electronics giant announced plans to build an EV in March 2021.

The compact battery-electric sedan launched in December 2023 to great fanfare. Xiaomi said it’s expected to reach 100,000 customer deliveries by November.

The SU7 was built in partnership with Beijing Automotive (BAIC), one of China’s largest carmakers, which also makes Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz vehicles for the Chinese market.

The Xiaomi SU7’s key features

The SU7 turns up the wow factor in the cabin. Although Xiaomi is best known outside China for its smartphones, the company is a consumer electronics conglomerate that makes everything from TVs and smart speakers to connected housewares like lighting and air conditioners.

The SU7 is fully integrated into the Xiaomi ecosystem, which allows for remote voice control of household appliances from the vehicle. It has a massive 16.1-inch infotainment screen with smartphone mirroring and offers Xiaomi Pilot, software that Xiaomi said allows for assisted self-driving and self-parking.

Xiaomi’s EVs aren’t available for sale in the US. The US government imposes a 100% import tariff on Chinese-made electric vehicles, making it hard for US residents to get their hands on any Chinese EVs.

Farley said he flew the car to Chicago from Shanghai. It’s possible he got a hold of it through an NHTSA exemption that allows vehicles not approved for sale in the US to be imported for research and development.

So you probably won’t see the car on US streets anytime soon — but it sure sounds like elements of it could inspire future Ford EVs.