According to information from Chinese media, customers who placed pre-orders and paid a deposit of 5,000 yuan (approximately $700) are already receiving notifications that they must pay the full amount within 30 days. It is worth noting that a significant portion of these cars have not even been manufactured yet — they will have to wait 22 to 25 weeks.
The biggest dissatisfaction is caused by the fact that Xiaomi previously assured that full payment would only be possible after the buyer inspects the finished car. Now the company is pressuring customers, citing a clause in the contract that allows it to demand the remaining amount at any time based on production needs. If the customer refuses to pay, it is considered a breach of the agreement, giving the company the legal right to cancel the order and not refund the prepayment made.
This approach seems quite harsh compared to competitors. For example, BYD, Nio, and Tesla allow their customers to make the final payment after receiving the car — this is convenient and clear for buyers.
According to experts, in this way Xiaomi is likely trying to filter out those who are not too committed to the purchase and speed up the process of handing over cars to those ready to pay immediately. However, such a strategy could significantly undermine trust in the brand, which is just beginning to gain authority in the electric vehicle sector.
Given the huge demand for the SU7 and YU7 models, this policy could work both in favor of the company and against it. However, one thing is undeniable — Xiaomi still needs a lot of effort to prove that it is not only a smartphone manufacturer but also a serious player in the automotive market.
