China's Xiaomi delivers 20,000 EVs in October, just months after launching its first car
BEIJING — China's Xiaomi said Tuesday that it had delivered more than 20,000 SU7 EVs in October as it ramps up production for its electric car venture in a fiercely competitive market.
The Chinese company, which is largely known for its smartphones and home appliances, reiterated plans to deliver 100,000 SU7 vehicles by the end of November. Xiaomi first revealed plans to make cars in 2021 and began building a dedicated manufacturing plant the same year.
The company released the basic version of the SU7, its first car, in late March for about $4,000 less than Tesla's cheapest car — Model 3 — in China at the time. Tesla subsequently cut the car's price by about $2,000. Xiaomi has delivered more than 75,000 SU7 cars to date, including October's figures.
Chinese rivals Xpeng and Nio took about six years to produce 100,000 electric cars, while it took Tesla 12 years.
While Xpeng delivered a monthly record of more than 20,000 cars in September, with about half the sales owed to its newly launched, lower-cost brand Mona, Nio has struggled to keep monthly deliveries above 20,000 cars.
Zeekr, an electric car brand founded by automaker Geely, has claimed it produced more than 100,000 vehicles in 1.5 years. It delivered a record 21,333 cars in September.
Data on other Chinese electric car companies' deliveries for October is expected Friday.
"News of 20k deliveries in October confirms that [Xiaomi] is going to be a force to reckon with in the world's largest EV market," said Brian Tycangco, an analyst at Stansberry Research.
He said Xiaomi's electric car gross profit margins in August were similar to Xpeng's that month, and have likely improved since, given ramped up production.
Xiaomi on Tuesday also announced it was taking preorders for