According to data released late Thursday by Autohome, Xiaomi's YU7 electric SUV achieved the highest sales volume in China for January with 37,869 units sold. This figure is double that of Tesla's Model Y, which recorded 16,845 units during the same period according to the China Passenger Car Association. Consequently, the Model Y dropped from its December leading position to 20th place overall and seventh among new energy vehicles in January. Xiaomi launched the YU7 model in summer 2025 at a starting price 10,000 yuan lower than the Model Y. These figures indicate Xiaomi's electric car venture has successfully surpassed Tesla in the Chinese market for January.
BEIJING — Xiaomi 's electric car venture has succeeded in dethroning Tesla in China, at least in January.
The Xiaomi YU7 SUV ranked first in China by sales last month, with 37,869 units sold, twice as many as Tesla's 16,845 Model Y vehicles, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association.
The Model Y, which was the best-selling model in December, plunged to 20th place in January. Among new energy vehicles, it also fell from the first position to seventh over the same period.
The figures include both electric and gasoline-powered vehicles and were published late Thursday by online car sales platform Autohome.
Xiaomi started selling the YU7, its second electric car model, roughly half a year ago in the summer of 2025.
The Chinese company, best known for its smartphones, hasn't been shy about its aim to take on Tesla. Xiaomi launched the car at a starting price that was 10,000 yuan ($1,450) below the Model Y in China. The company claimed the model beat Tesla on key metrics such as driving range on a single battery charge.