A video of a Xiaomi SU7 sedan seemingly taking itself for a spin went viral over the weekend in China, sparking safety concerns. The internet was quick to imagine hacked cars and rogue AI, but Xiaomi quickly shut down the drama, claiming that the mysterious drive was simply triggered by a remote command from the owner’s Apple iPhone.

More: Xiaomi Boss Admits They Bought Teslas And Tore Them Down To Learn Every Secret

The incident took place on September 30, when the owner, identified as Li Xiaoshuang, parked his light blue SU7 outside a store in the city of Weihai. Minutes later, while he was inside the shop with a woman, the car began to creep forward with no one behind the wheel. Realizing what was happening, Li rushed outside and sprinted after his runaway EV.

A Confusing Start

After sharing the surveillance footage, the owner contacted Xiaomi’s customer service to report the car’s strange behavior. The representative informed him that the EV had received a remote command from a device labeled “iPhone 16.2.” The owner, however, insisted he hadn’t touched his phone nor did he own an iPhone 16 and provided the video as proof.

The mix-up was later clarified when engineers confirmed that “16.2” wasn’t referring to a newer iPhone model at all, but to the internal identifier Apple assigns to the owner’s iPhone 15 Pro Max. Likewise, an iPhone 16 Pro also linked to the vehicle, belonging to the woman seen in the video, appeared under the code “17.1.”

Technical Verification

After reviewing the EV’s data logs and the smartphones’ activity records, Xiaomi engineers confirmed that the car had, in fact, received a valid remote parking command from the owner’s iPhone at that exact moment. The company also verified that every system operated correctly.

More: China Recalling Over A Third Of All Xiaomi SU7s After Deadly Crash

The company issued a formal apology for the misunderstanding and thanked the owner for cooperating in the investigation. They also emphasized that all vehicle systems operated as intended. The owner eventually acknowledged Xiaomi’s findings after witnessing the data verification himself, and urged others to stop spreading false claims about software bugs or hacks.

Accidental Commands, Real Consequences

So what could have triggered the remote parking command without the owner realizing it? The most likely explanation is that the feature was unintentionally activated through the iPhone app or its voice assistant.

Still, the idea that a simple tap or phrase can send a two-ton machine rolling on its own should give manufacturers pause. As cars become more like smartphones on wheels, it might be time for automakers to impose tighter safeguards on how these systems talk to each other, rather than assuming every “smart” feature is foolproof.

Below you’ll find the official statements from both Xiaomi and the owner.

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Xiaomi’s Official Statement

Regarding the recent online video of a Xiaomi car suddenly driving away, we attach great importance to this incident and immediately established a special task force to investigate and collaborate with the user to verify the situation.

Both parties verified the user’s authorized mobile app operation logs and vehicle data, reaching a consensus: “The vehicle’s backend data matches the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s operation logs, response times, and vehicle exit commands, ruling out any vehicle quality issues.”

During the investigation, with the user’s consent, we obtained vehicle backend data and operation logs from two phones with vehicle control permissions: the female owner’s iPhone 16 Pro and the male owner’s iPhone 15 Pro Max, with corresponding device model identifiers of iPhone 17.1 and iPhone 16.2, respectively.

The vehicle’s backend data shows that during the time window described by the user, the vehicle received a parking assist command from the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which activated the parking assist feature (activation requires the vehicle to be within close range of the phone’s Bluetooth connection) and initiated the exit.

When contacting online customer service regarding the user’s feedback, they stated that the parking assist command originated from an iPhone 16. We have verified that our online customer service representative confused the device model identifier (iPhone 16,2) with the corresponding device model (iPhone 15 Pro Max) during communication with the user, leading to misunderstanding and miscommunication. We apologize for this and will continue to improve our service efforts.

Xiaomi Auto always prioritizes user safety and user experience. Thank you for your attention and support.

Owner’s Response:

I am the owner of the vehicle in question. The above information is true. The Xiaomi Auto team has verified the data with me in person and confirmed it is correct. Thank you for your professionalism and service. Please refrain from spreading rumors. Thank you.

Sources: Weibo, Xiaomi

Xiaomi has already proved its SU7 mettle at the Nurburging, demolishing the fastest times set by its Porsche Taycan and Tesla Model S rivals. But what happens when you take those corners out of the equation? That’s what we find out in a new Carwow video pitting the the top-spec SU7, the Ultra, against a Model S Plaid.

Also: Xiaomi Boss Admits They Bought Teslas And Tore Them Down To Learn Every Secret

It’s no understatement to say things don’t look good for the Tesla going into this fight. We now live in a world so crazy that even the Plaid’s once outrageous four-figure power output seems kind of ordinary.

Its 1,006 hp (1,020 PS) and 1,047 lb-ft (1,420 Nm) stats are dwarfed by the SU7 Ultra’s 1,527 hp (1,548 PS) and 1,306 lb-ft (1,770 Nm), and though the Tesla fights back with a 375 lbs (170 kg) advantage you don’t need to reach for a calculator to know it’s on the backfoot.

Launch Control Drama

But when the flag drops it’s the Plaid that drops the SU7, again and again. Carwow host Matt Watson has spent more time on runways than most pilots and is obviously a dab hand at launching cars, both in terms of reacting to the flag and managing wheelspin – and the more powerful SU7 obviously has more wheelspin to manage. But it’s still a shock to see how long it take the Xiaomi to even begin to start reeling the Tesla in.

But once it gets going, it makes the Plaid look like it’d struggle to outrun a Dacia Spring. The in-car shot from the Tesla looking across Watson to the SU7 streaking by is mind blowing. However, the resulting quarter-mile times are pretty close.

That’s because the Xiaomi takes so long to hit its stride – 9.3 seconds for the SU7, 9.5 seconds for the Model S – and based on this evidence the Chinese car might not have the space to make up the ground in your average stoplight grudge match.

US-based Plaid owners don’t have to worry about finding out because Xiaomi doesn’t offer cars in America yet (though European sales are on the horizon). And that’s just as well for Tesla, because in China, the Ultra sells for the equivalent of $74,300, while the Plaid is almost $100k in the US.

Lead image Carwow

Xiaomi’s rise to become one of China’s most popular car brands has been meteoric, due in large part to it already being a massive and hugely popular consumer electronics brand. Their SU7 sedan and YU7 SUV have already been proven to be very competitive, albeit with a few teething issues. Even so, Xiaomi’s leadership has been open about one thing in particular: the importance of learning directly from rivals like Tesla.

Read: Xiaomi’s Massive Waitlist Has CEO Suggesting Tesla to Frustrated Buyers

While recently speaking at an event in China, Xiaomi chief executive Lei Jun shared that earlier this year, the company purchased three Tesla Model Ys and proceeded to disassemble them and study every single component. It’s safe to assume Xiaomi likely carried out a similar exercise with the Model 3 when developing its first car, the SU7.

Borrowing From a Playbook

To be fair, this is hardly a unique approach to Xiaomi. Across the auto industry and beyond, tearing down competitors’ products is a long-standing method of benchmarking. Electronics firms routinely dissect smartphones and processors, while carmakers buy rivals’ vehicles, dismantle them to the last nut and bolt, and scrutinize everything from materials and software to production techniques.

Even Ferrari has been drawn into similar speculation after a Xiaomi SU7 was recently spotted leaving the marque’s Maranello headquarters, prompting suggestions it could have been benchmarked against the brand’s first dedicated electric model.

Learning by Taking Apart

“We bought 3 Model Ys at the start of this year, disassembling the parts one by one, and studied every component, one at a time,” Lei told the crowd, according to Business Insider.

Throughout the presentation at the Beijing National Convention Center, Jun was complimentary of the Tesla Model Y, and showed a side-by-side comparison of the Tesla and the new YU7. Unlike many other industry CEOs, Xiaomi’s boss isn’t claiming that its latest model will wipe the floor with Elon Musk’s best-seller.

During the event, Lei told attendees, “if you don’t choose YU7, you can consider Model Y. I’m not criticizing the Model Y,” he added. “The Model Y is a very, very outstanding car.”

Too Much Demand, Not Enough Supply

Just last month, Lei took to social media to encourage those in the market for a new EV to look beyond Xiaomi and the YU7 as the technology giant wrestles with a massive backlog of orders. Indeed, within 18 hours of the YU7’s launch, Xiaomi had received roughly 240,000 orders, and some shoppers have been told they’ll need to wait over a year to take delivery.

Faced with this backlog, Lei took to social media to encourage shoppers to consider alternatives rather than sit idle in the queue. Among his suggestions were the Xpeng G7, Li Auto i8, and, once again, Tesla’s Model Y.

More than 115,000 examples of the hugely popular Xiaomi SU7 are being recalled in China due concerns with its driver-assistance systems. The move follows a high-profile crash about six months ago in which three college students were killed when their SU7 struck a concrete divider at 97 km/h (60 mph) while its Navigate on Autopilot system was active.

More: First Fatal Xiaomi SU7 Crash Sparks Questions About Self-Driving Tech And Locked Doors

China’s State Administration for Market Regulation has revealed that the driver-assistance system used by the SU7 has “insufficient recognition capability and may not adequately detect and warn drivers in certain scenarios,” as required by Level 2 or Level 2+ systems. It went on to specify that if the highway pilot assisted driving feature is enabled, it may not provide adequate warnings of performance in extreme scenarios.

Scale of the Recall

A total of 116,887 examples of the SU7 are being recalled, all of which were manufactured between February 2024 and August 2025. This accounts for roughly 38 percent of the 305,055 SU7s that had been sold across China as of July since the car’s early 2024 launch.

Xiaomi has confirmed that the fault will be corrected via an over-the-air software update, avoiding the need for physical servicing.

This recall coincides with the rollout of new safety standards in China for cars equipped with Level 2 driver-assistance systems. These regulations, which set stricter performance requirements, will come into effect in 2027.

Fatal March Crash

The most serious incident linked to the SU7 occurred in March on the Dezhou-Shangrao Expressway. Chinese media reported that at the time, the car was allegedly traveling at 116 km/h (72 mph) with the Navigate on Autopilot engaged.

The system was said to have flagged an “obstacle ahead” and initiated braking while approaching a construction zone. The driver intervened, steering left and applying moderate braking, then gradually turning back to the right. Moments later, the vehicle collided with a concrete divider and caught fire. All three occupants lost their lives.

Read: Chinese Smartphone Giant’s European EV Push Might Spell Trouble For Tesla

“A recall due to a faulty driver-assistance system may deter some Chinese consumers from buying Xiaomi cars,” said Chen Jinzhu, CEO of consultancy Shanghai Mingliang Auto Service, in comments to the South China Morning Post. “But the recall also shows Xiaomi’s commitment and confidence in resolving the issues.”

Xiaomi may be a relatively new player in the automotive space, but it’s already proven to be one of the most innovative and popular new car brands in China. Not only have the SU7 sedan and YU7 crossover been selling like hot cakes, but Xiaomi has laid the smackdown on Porsche and Rimac with the SU7 Ultra, and soon, the YU7 will get a high-performance trim of its own.

Expected to be carry the YU7 GT badge, the new model was recently snapped by our spy photographers testing at the Nurburgring. Xiaomi did not bother hiding the crossover under thick body cladding, instead opting for a simple skin-tight white and red camouflage wrap.

Read: A 60-Week Waitlist Just Made Xiaomi’s SUV A Flippers Goldmine

At first glance, the changes look subtle. The front fascia seems untouched compared with the standard YU7, but closer inspection reveals flared front and rear fenders that allow for a broader track and larger wheels. The test car rolls on Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS tires, which have been designed specifically for hypercars and supercars. Clearly, the YU7 GT is going to be fast, and it’s going to be powerful.

Baldauf

Hiding behind the wheels sit oversized carbon ceramic brakes with bright yellow calipers, a setup that promises the stopping power to match the expected surge in performance.

The Powertrain

The current Xiaomi SU7 Ultra uses three electric motors to deliver a combined 1,526 hp and 1,306 lb-ft (1,770 Nm) of torque, giving it way more power than the 1,019 hp of the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT. There’s no word on whether the YU7 GT crossover will have the same extraordinary amount of power as the SU7 Ultra sedan, but it will almost certainly use a similar tri-motor system and punch out more than 1,000 horses.

If that’s the case, then we expect to see the YU7 GT knock off the Audi RS Q8 Performance as the fastest SUV to ever lap the ‘Ring. To do so, it’ll need to post a time of less than 7:36.698. Either way, Xiaomi looks intent on proving it belongs in the fast lane of performance SUVs.

Baldauf

Xiaomi’s entry and subsequent expansion into the automotive world has been a revelation. Less than two years ago it wasn’t even building a single production car; now, it’s manufacturing the hugely popular SU7 sedan and YU7 SUV, both of which have received praise from both owners and reviewers. And come 2027, it won’t just be competing in China.

The company has been eyeing off an international expansion for quite some time, but has remained coy about which markets it would like to enter. However, while recently speaking on an earnings call, Xiaomi president Lu Weibing said the carmaker first plans to enter the European market by 2027 and go head- to-head with the likes of BYD and Tesla.

Read: Xiaomi’s Massive Waitlist Has CEO Suggesting Tesla to Frustrated Buyers

Xiaomi’s automotive push has been fueled by strong momentum at its home market. In the second quarter of 2025 alone, it delivered 81,302 vehicles, H1 total to 157,000. With production of the YU7 accelerating, deliveries are expected to increase, although some customers are already facing waits of more than a year.

Balancing Growth and Losses

Despite rapid sales, the technology giant’s automotive venture lost about 300 million yuan ($41 million) in the latest quarter. Still, co-founder Lei Jun recently said Xiaomi’s carmaking division will become profitable in the second half of 2025, reports Bloomberg.

Earlier this year, it was revealed that Xiaomi is recruiting personnel to work at a new European research and development center. Noteworthy hires include Rudolf Dittrich, who has previously worked at BMW, as well as the Williams and Sauber Formula 1 teams, while former BMW employees include Dusan Sarac and engineer Jannis Hellwig.

What Europe Might See First

It remains to be seen which Xiaomi model will be the first to launch in the Old Continent, but the firm likely hopes to sell both the SU7 and YU7 in the region. It is also hard at work on a third model, currently known as the YU9. This will take the form of a large SUV and will be an EREV with a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine and two electric motors.