Chinese electric vehicle startup Xiaomi’s SU7 electric sedan has encountered alarming reliability issues just less than two months since its official market launch.
Brake problems and system issues
Xiaomi formally launched the Tesla Model 3 rival SU7 in the Chinese market on March 28, 2024. Its deliveries only began on April 3.
Unfortunately, the electric sedan already faces several quality issues regarding its brake and system.
According to CarNewsChina.com, one early Xiaomi SU7 owner experienced a sudden breakdown after traveling just 39 kilometers since ownership. Even more, an over-the-air software update is apparently not enough to fix the issue. Therefore, the saleroom must return the unit to the factory for analysis.
Mr. Wen complained that his bright blue Xiaomi SU7 suddenly shut down while driving on a highway, as per his video post on social media sites. It reportedly displayed warnings of an imminent stop and faulty drive system, preventing him from shifting between drive and reverse.
“The vehicle will soon stop, so stop safely and contact the online service center… The drive system is defective and cannot shift gears.”
Warnings in the SU7’s infotainment system
The SU7 owner called for a tow truck to bring the car to Xiaomi’s delivery center. However, its technicians were not able to determine the issue.
Xiaomi’s response
Considering Xiaomi’s failure to offer the affected SU7 owner an immediate fix, Mr. Wen has asked for a replacement vehicle.
However, the Chinese automaker reportedly cannot replace the defective unit as all assembled models already have owners.
Instead, it plans to refund the full amount of the Xiaomi SU7 to the owner. It will also offer compensation for any expenses Mr. Wen spent.
Notably, this recent incident is just one of the larger trends of reliability concerns regarding the Xiaomi SU7. Some owners have raised paint issues, while others doubt the traction control system’s efficacy.
Xiaomi has already admitted an issue with the SU7’s Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system as it deactivates beyond 135 km/h until the rollout of an OTA update.
About the Xiaomi SU7
Xiaomi has produced more than 10,000 SU7 electric sedans since the official launch in late March 2024, demonstrating a strong customer demand.
However, these early reliability issues stimulate apprehensions about the brand’s capability to actually offer a reliable and safe electric car in the Chinese market.
The Xiaomi SU7 offers four trim levels: entry-level, Pro, Max, and limited Founders Edition. The top-tier Max variant boasts a 265 km/h top speed and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.78 seconds. It delivers a driving range of up to 810 km between charges.
