From WIRED · Jeremy White · · 3m
Xiaomi's $31,000 luxury SUV terrifies Western automakers
The Chinese tech giant is launching a feature-packed electric SUV that undercuts Western competitors by thousands while offering superior technology.
In brief
The Chinese tech giant is launching a feature-packed electric SUV that undercuts Western competitors by thousands while offering superior technology. Chinese automakers are using aggressive pricing and advanced features to capture market share from established Western luxury brands in the SUV segment. Originally…
SUVs dominate global auto sales
SUVs now account for nearly half of all new car sales worldwide, making them the largest segment in the global auto industry. Western carmakers have largely abandoned sedans to focus on this lucrative market.
Chinese brands target Western SUV buyers
Chinese automakers are launching feature-rich SUVs at aggressive prices to lure buyers away from established Western brands like Range Rover and Bentley.
Jaecoo's meteoric rise in the UK
The Chinese-made Jaecoo 7 went from unknown newcomer in 2025 to one of the UK's best-selling new cars, priced at just £29,210. Nicknamed the "Temu Range Rover," it's forcing traditional dealers to switch brands.
Xiaomi enters the EV market fast
Xiaomi Auto made its first EV in 2024 and already claimed the "World's Fastest Sedan" title with the SU7 Ultra. The company plans to launch in Europe in 2027.
SkyNomad offers luxury at half the price
The five-seat SkyNomad N70 starts at just over $31,000 with lidar, 14-speaker sound system, and 300-plus-mile electric range. It undercuts a Range Rover Velar by thousands while offering superior technology.
Reconfigurable interiors redefine flexibility
The SkyNomad features seats that spin 180 degrees, sliding rails for repositioning all seat sections, and a pop-up roof with heated flooring and projector. Western luxury cars offer only minor innovations by comparison.
“The SkyNomad makes US and European efforts look, frankly, lazy”
Advanced tech at every level
The SkyNomad includes full scenario voice control, customizable head-up display, lidar units, and Nvidia's Thor-U chip for level 2-plus autonomous driving. A low-voltage system keeps sentry mode drain minimal.
Extended range hybrid powertrain
The plug-in hybrid combines a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine with dual electric motors, delivering 300-plus-mile electric range and 1,000-mile combined range. It charges from 20 to 80 percent in 18 minutes.
Seven-seater camper version available
The larger N90 Max Studio seats seven and includes a pop-up roof that opens a sleeping loft with 1.8 meters of headroom, heated flooring, and a built-in projector. It costs about $44,700 fully loaded.
Western executives dismiss Xiaomi at their peril
A Western luxury CEO dismissed Xiaomi as "vacuum makers," echoing Elon Musk's 2011 dismissal of BYD as a competitor. Musk no longer laughs at BYD, which is now the world's largest EV maker.
“They make vacuums, don't they?”
The bottom line
Chinese automakers are using aggressive pricing and advanced features to capture market share from established Western luxury brands in the SUV segment.
