What you need to know about the Chinese EV loved by Ford's CEO — and why you can't get it in the US

• Ford CEO Jim Farley praised nan Xiaomi SU7, a caller Chinese EV he's driving.
• Chinese electronics shaper Xiaomi launched nan SU7 successful December 2023 pinch a starting value of $30,000.
• Xiaomi said it's connected gait to present 100,000 SU7 EVs to customers during its first year.

Ford CEO Jim Farley said during a podcast question and reply that he's been driving nan Xiaomi Speed Ultra 7, a Chinese EV, for nan past six months and he doesn't want to springiness it up.

"It's fantastic. They waste 10,000, 20,000 a month. They're sold retired for six months," Farley said, calling Xiaomi an "industry juggernaut."

This raises immoderate questions.

First: What's truthful compelling astir this car? It's beautiful uncommon to perceive a main executive publically extol their nonstop competitors. Why is it truthful impressive?

Second: How did Farley get nan car to nan US anyway? And why can't Americans get a car for illustration that successful nan US?

Let's excavation in.

What is nan Xiaomi SU7?

The SU7 is Xiaomi's first conveyance since nan Chinese smartphone and user electronics elephantine announced plans to build an EV successful March 2021.

The compact battery-electric sedan launched successful December 2023 to awesome fanfare. Xiaomi said it's expected to scope 100,000 customer deliveries by November.

The SU7 was built successful business pinch Beijing Automotive (BAIC), 1 of China's largest carmakers, which besides makes Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz vehicles for nan Chinese market.

The Xiaomi SU7's cardinal features

The SU7 comes successful 3 versions — nan SU7, SU7 Pro, and nan SU7 Max — that commencement astatine 215,900 yuan aliases astir $30,300. Even nan astir costly version, nan high-performance SU7 Max, won't break nan slope pinch a starting value of 299,900 yuan aliases astir $42,100.

By comparison, nan guidelines Tesla Model 3 starts astatine 231,900 yuan, aliases astir $32,600, successful China, while nan range-topping all-wheel-drive version starts astatine 335,900 yuan, aliases astir $47,200.

In position of nan styling, nan SU7 isn't terribly original but it's attractive, drafting elements of its beforehand extremity from nan McLaren 750S supercar and its wide style from Porsche's Panamera sedan.

The SU7 turns up nan wow facet successful nan cabin. Although Xiaomi is champion known extracurricular China for its smartphones, nan institution is simply a user electronics conglomerate that makes everything from TVs and smart speakers to connected housewares for illustration lighting and aerial conditioners.

The SU7 is afloat integrated into nan Xiaomi ecosystem, which allows for distant sound power of family appliances from nan vehicle. It has a monolithic 16.1-inch infotainment surface pinch smartphone mirroring and offers Xiaomi Pilot, package that Xiaomi said allows for assisted self-driving and self-parking.

The car besides features immoderate awesome performance. According to Xiaomi, nan range-topping SU7 Max tin accelerate from 0 to 62mph successful conscionable 2.78 seconds, which bests nan rival high-performance Model 3's clip of 3.1 seconds.

Why you can't bargain nan SU7 successful nan US

Xiaomi's EVs aren't disposable for waste successful nan US. The US authorities imposes a 100% import tariff connected Chinese-made electrical vehicles, making it difficult for US residents to get their hands connected immoderate Chinese EVs.

Farley said he flew nan car to Chicago from Shanghai. It's imaginable he sewage a clasp of it done an NHTSA exemption that allows vehicles not approved for waste successful nan US to beryllium imported for investigation and development.

So you astir apt won't spot nan car connected US streets anytime soon — but it judge sounds for illustration elements of it could animate early Ford EVs.