On Saturday, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun hosted the company’s first livestream of 2026, during which he dismantled a Xiaomi YU7 vehicle to address public scrutiny and showcase the car’s build quality. The roughly five-hour broadcast drew widespread attention from Chinese viewers.
Lei said Xiaomi had previously taken a low-profile approach to controversy, believing that strong products would speak for themselves. However, following growing feedback from users, the company has decided to respond more directly and promptly to concerns. The teardown marked the first step in that effort, he said.
Lei also welcomed independent reviewers to conduct their own teardowns of Xiaomi vehicles, calling for fair and objective assessments rather than exaggerated criticism aimed at generating online traffic.
Engineers carried out a live teardown of a green Xiaomi YU7 standard model that rolled off the production line in December 2025, dismantling the vehicle step by step to its bare body shell. The process began with the removal of the four doors and two hoods, followed by the interior and exterior components, the chassis and electric drivetrain, and then the front compartment, thermal management system, instrument panel and wiring harness.
The teardown offered a detailed view of key structures, including the YU7’s integrated die-cast body, door side-impact beams and the layout of its electric powertrain.
Responding to safety concerns over the door handles, Xiaomi engineers said the YU7 uses mechanical pull cables for both interior and exterior handles. In extreme collisions, even if both the main and auxiliary batteries fail, a dedicated backup power source allows the door locks to switch to independent power and mechanical control. The doors can still be opened mechanically from outside, while the interior handles remain operable at all times, they said.
Xiaomi’s chief vehicle designer, Li Tianyuan, said the YU7’s extended front-end design reflects the core of automotive proportions. He described the long hood as a hallmark of a century of industrial design aesthetics, noting that it also increases front trunk space and the collision buffer zone.
During the livestream, Lei Jun said that the company delivered more than 410,000 vehicles in 2025 and set a target of 550,000 for 2026. Xiaomi is developing 2,400 MPa ultra-high-strength steel to further enhance its product competitiveness, accordig to Lei. The company’s livestream was intended to demonstrate its commitment to public scrutiny and transparency.
