Xiaomi has denied reports of a delay in the launch of its upcoming YU7 electric SUV, reaffirming that the vehicle will go on sale in June or July, as previously announced by CEO Lei Jun.
The company addressed the speculation after Bloomberg reported on Wednesday that the launch timeline was uncertain and a new date had not been confirmed.
Wang Hua, Xiaomi’s head of public relations, dismissed the report on his personal Weibo account, stating that the original schedule remains unchanged. The YU7 is expected to be a direct competitor to Tesla’s Model Y, adding to Xiaomi’s growing presence in the electric vehicle sector.
The tech giant disappointed fans last week by choosing not to unveil the YU7 at the Shanghai auto show. Unlike last year’s Beijing auto show, where Xiaomi made a significant splash with the debut of its SU7 sedan, this year’s presentation was more reserved.
The company opted not to host a press conference and focused instead on displaying its SU7 and SU7 Ultra models.
CEO Lei Jun, who attracted considerable attention at the previous auto show, was notably absent from Shanghai due to a scheduling conflict, according to a company spokesperson. Despite his absence, Lei continues to support the event on his Weibo account.
Xiaomi has recently been under scrutiny following a fatal accident involving an SU7 model that collided with a roadside pole while traveling at 97 kph with its advanced driving assistance system activated. The crash resulted in the deaths of the driver and two passengers, drawing attention to the safety of the company’s smart driving technologies.
