Xiaomi officials have recently addressed the fire incident involving their SU7 electric sedan in China, a topic that has ignited considerable debate online due to the dramatic explosions that were reported alongside the flames.
On February 1, the Xiaomi SU7 caught fire in Yingkou, located in Liaoning Province in northern China. This alarming event has raised questions about the underlying causes of the fire, particularly because of the firework-like bursts that accompanied it.
In an official statement from Xiaomi Auto, it was confirmed that the fire originated from the driver’s seat area. The owner of the vehicle indicated that the flames were triggered by a residual heat source within the car that ignited some nearby flammable materials. While the exact nature of this fire source has not been publicly identified, Xiaomi assured everyone that the vehicle's battery was not implicated as a factor in this incident.
Furthermore, Xiaomi clarified that the explosive sounds described as "firework explosions" were actually the result of the airbags deploying during the incident. Therefore, these concerning noises were unrelated to the vehicle’s battery system. Fortunately, the local firefighters responded quickly to the scene, extinguishing the fire without any injuries reported.
It is important to note that a significant number of recent electric vehicle fires in China have been linked to flammable items left inside the cars. For instance, an incident on October 5 involved an Avatr 06 sedan that caught fire in Fujian Province when sunlight focused on a passenger seat due to objects placed on the center console. Similarly, on October 30, a Geely EX2 hatchback ignited because of a combustible source found within its cabin.
A brief overview of the Xiaomi SU7 reveals its popularity in the domestic market, with 258,164 units sold last year, according to data from China EV DataTracker. The SU7 has even garnered praise from Ford’s CEO, Jim Farley, who described it as one of the top Chinese electric vehicles.
The latest model of the Xiaomi SU7 for 2024 features impressive dimensions of 4997 mm in length, 1963 mm in width, and 1455 mm in height. Its all-wheel-drive (AWD) version is equipped with two electric motors that generate a remarkable 495 kW (or 664 horsepower). The high-end Max variant comes with a substantial 101 kWh ternary battery, boasting an 800 km range according to the China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC).
Looking ahead, the newly upgraded Xiaomi SU7 is set to launch in the domestic market on March 19. This model will feature enhancements such as dual-chamber air suspension, an extended range of up to 902 km, and a peak power output of 508 kW (681 hp). The pricing for this updated version ranges from 229,900 to 309,900 yuan, which translates to approximately 33,115 to 44,640 USD.
