Karmactive Team
One would generally expect the CEO of an automotive brand to use a vehicle from their company for daily use, just as you wouldn’t expect Apple’s CEO to have an Android phone. But during an interview, Ford’s big boss, Jim Farley revealed that he’s been driving a Xiaomi electric car for almost six months, and he loves it.
It was on the Fully Charged podcast that Ford’s CEO revealed he daily drives a Xiaomi SU7. Although the vehicle isn’t currently sold outside Chinese territory, Ford bought one and brought it from Shanghai to Chicago for testing and comparisons.
“It’s fantastic,” declared Jim Farley. “They sell between 10,000 and 20,000 per month, they’re sold out for six months,” Farley said in amazement, considering they’re far from achieving anything like that with all their electric models combined, though he didn’t mention the other reality: that Xiaomi loses about US$ 10,000 on each car sold.
This wouldn’t be the first time Ford has been amazed by the Chinese industry, as something similar happened previously when they tested an electric Changan. It’s not for nothing that in the United States they’re clear that the Chinese industry is an existential threat to them.
One of the highest-performing Chinese sedans and Xiaomi’s opera prima Xiaomi is primarily known as a mobile phone company since its beginnings (which we’re referring to 2010) and recently entered the automotive industry; their first car has been the famous and high-performing SU7 that they presented this year. The sedan has proven to be an instant sales success in China, with prices starting at the U.S. equivalent of about $30,000. Their goal is to make 100,000 deliveries this year, a surprisingly ambitious figure for a company that has only been manufacturing and selling cars since March of this year.
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The SU7 has specifications and features that show great promise, its most powerful version claims a 0 to 100 km/h time of just 2.78 seconds; charging from 10% to 80% takes under 20 minutes; and Xiaomi claims it can offer a range of 800 km on a full battery, though that’s on China’s very optimistic CLDTC cycle. (For reference: the CLDTC claimed the 2021 Tesla Model 3 Performance had a range of 674 km, compared to 566 km on the WLTP test and 518 on the EPA cycle).
The SU7 also features air suspension, a vast array of interior infotainment and instrumentation screens (which can be synchronized with Xiaomi’s variety of smart apps and devices), advanced driver assistance systems, and a truly striking design. Sawyer Li, a former BMW designer, is responsible for designing the sleek-looking sedan.
Driving competitive cars is normal for those working in the automotive industry, especially in Farley’s position; he said this in response to people discussing his praise of the SU7 on X.
Chinese electric cars are increasingly catching on among European and American drivers. Their high level of technology, their electric motors at more competitive prices, and their redesign with Western tastes in mind make them a standout option.
This car is available in two versions. The Xiaomi SU7, with rear-wheel drive, 299 HP motor and 400 Nm, and 700 kilometers of range; and the SU7 Max, with all-wheel drive, 673 HP of power and 838 Nm of torque, and 800 kilometers of range.
