On the evening of July 19th, Xiaomi founder Lei Jun delivered an annual speech themed "courage" that lasted over three hours. He first reviewed Xiaomi's car-making journey, sharing its ups and downs and challenges. Following that, he unveiled eight new products, including the eye-catching fourth-generation foldable screen phone. During the speech, Lei Jun not only frequently delivered golden lines but also continuously dropped bombshells, such as an electric car drift demonstration and a response to the anti-counterfeiting incident involving Dong Mingzhu.

Notably, the highly anticipated Xiaomi Automobile also announced new developments. Lei Jun unveiled the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra prototype and boldly stated that it would target Porsche, challenging the Nürburgring non-production lap record, aiming to become the fastest four-door electric car at the Nürburgring within ten years. This passionate speech not only showcased Xiaomi's ambition but also revealed Lei Jun's unwavering confidence in the future. Unfortunately, the second SUV model of Xiaomi Automobile, which was speculated by the outside world, did not reveal any news during this annual speech, seemingly encountering delays that disappointed many Xiaomi fans who were following the new car.

Xiaomi Automobile Creates an "Industry Miracle"

In this annual speech, Xiaomi founder Lei Jun revealed the origin of Xiaomi's car-making endeavor. He joked that it was an "accidental" start. On January 15, 2021, on his way to work, Lei Jun learned that Xiaomi had been sanctioned by the United States, which sparked profound reflections on Xiaomi's future. If the mobile phone business was restricted, where would Xiaomi go?

That day, Lei Jun began seriously considering car-making and quickly assembled a six-person research team to conduct in-depth studies. During this time, he also received encouragement from Li Bin and He Xiaopeng. He humorously said, "At the time, I thought, why were they so eager to persuade me to make cars? Didn't they fear having another competitor? Later, I realized they might have genuinely wanted the best for me and Xiaomi."

Regarding why Xiaomi Automobile did not choose to go public independently, Lei Jun explained that although venture capitalists had offered Xiaomi Automobile a valuation of up to $10 billion, he refused after careful consideration. He believed that the car-making cycle was long and complex, and external funds could affect decision-making independence. Furthermore, Xiaomi already had a wealth of talent within the company, so it was decided that Xiaomi would independently advance the car-making project.

Lei Jun firmly believes that intelligence is the future of automobiles, and the electric vehicle era marks the beginning of this intelligence. He enthusiastically stated, "As long as you genuinely like it and genuinely want to do it, any time is the best time to enter the automotive industry." More than three years have passed since Xiaomi announced its entry into the automotive industry. Since the launch of its first model, the Xiaomi SU7, in March of this year, Xiaomi Automobile's popularity has continued to rise. Deliveries are also steadily increasing, with an expected delivery volume of over 10,000 units in July.

Even more noteworthy is that Lei Jun revealed that Xiaomi Automobile's delivery target of 100,000 units for this year is expected to be achieved ahead of schedule in November. For an emerging automotive brand, from the initial stages of exploration to the current strong momentum, Xiaomi Automobile's development can be described as a miracle within the industry. This not only showcases Xiaomi's strength but also reflects the market's enthusiastic expectations and recognition of Xiaomi Automobile.

SU7 to Become the Fastest Four-Door Electric Car at the Nürburgring

In his annual speech, Xiaomi founder Lei Jun showcased Xiaomi Automobile's latest masterpiece, the SU7 Ultra, a model meticulously crafted by Xiaomi Automobile to demonstrate its technical prowess and compete with industry leaders. Lei Jun set his sights on Porsche and the Nürburgring, intending to break into the automotive world with this model.

The SU7 Ultra, as the grand finale of the speech, showcased Xiaomi Automobile's innovations in technology and design. The model employs carbon fiber materials for all its covers, including the motor upper guard and brake air scoop, resulting in a total vehicle weight of only 1900kg. To enhance track performance, the new car underwent a redesign of its aerodynamics, shifting from prioritizing drag reduction to prioritizing downforce. Specially designed components such as a fixed large rear wing and rear diffuser collectively generate a maximum downforce of 2145kg, which is impressive.

In terms of the braking system, the SU7 Ultra utilizes AP Racing's front and rear six-piston racing-grade monoblock forged fixed calipers, along with high-temperature racing brake discs and pads. Coupled with the energy recovery system, the new car achieves a maximum braking deceleration of 2.36g during testing, with a 100km/h-0 braking distance of only 25m, demonstrating outstanding braking performance.

Power-wise, the SU7 Ultra is equipped with Xiaomi Automobile's self-developed V8s super motor for the first time, forming a powerful three-motor all-wheel-drive system with two V8s and one V6s. This system endows the new car with a combined maximum horsepower of 1548PS, a 0-100km/h acceleration time of as low as 1.97 seconds, and a top speed exceeding 350km/h, potentially making it the fastest four-door model globally.

Lei Jun stated that this ultimate performance beast is not merely a gimmick but will compete on the world-renowned Nürburgring track, aiming to become the "fastest four-door electric car at the Nürburgring." Xiaomi Automobile's challenge plan is divided into two steps: first, using a prototype car to challenge the Nürburgring non-production lap record in October 2024, followed by using a production model to officially challenge the Nürburgring production lap record in 2025. Lei Jun candidly admitted that this challenge is full of difficulties, "but we will persevere until victory."