In a last-minute announcement that has disappointed many tech enthusiasts, Xiaomi's founder and CEO Lei Jun has postponed his highly anticipated New Year's Eve livestream. The event, which promised a live teardown of the new Xiaomi Yu7 electric vehicle, was set to be a major highlight for the tech community in China as the country rings in 2026. The sudden change of plans underscores the unpredictable nature of live events and the human element behind major corporate announcements.
The Planned Spectacle: A Live Yu7 Teardown
Lei Jun had built significant anticipation for the December 31st broadcast, promising a unique and "hardcore" format. Instead of a standard presentation or interview, the CEO planned to host engineers who would physically dismantle a Xiaomi Yu7 on camera. This interactive approach was designed to demystify the vehicle's engineering, showcase its build quality, and engage directly with a community curious about the car's internal components. The concept was a direct response to online discussions, as Lei Jun noted he had seen a viral video拆解 (tearing down) the SU7 model and many followers had requested a similar treatment for the newer Yu7.
Event Timeline:
- 2025-12-30: Xiaomi Auto's official Weibo announces Lei Jun's New Year's Eve livestream featuring a live teardown of the Yu7, scheduled for 8:00 PM on Dec 31.
- 2025-12-31 01:19 UTC (09:19 China Standard Time): Lei Jun posts on Weibo to postpone the livestream due to a severe感冒 (cold). The event is rescheduled for 2026-01-03 at 7:00 PM local time.
A Sudden Change: Illness Forces a Schedule Shift
The excitement was curtailed early on December 31st when Lei Jun took to his personal Weibo account to announce the postponement. "I'm really sorry, I have a pretty bad cold," he stated, explaining that the原定 (originally scheduled) New Year's Eve直播 (livestream) would be pushed back to January 3rd at 7:00 PM local time. The announcement, made just hours before the event was to begin, left fans expressing well-wishes for his recovery while adjusting their plans for the evening. This move reschedules the event from a symbolic New Year's celebration to a standard post-holiday tech reveal.
The Legacy of Lei Jun's Livestreams
This year's planned teardown follows a successful formula established by Lei Jun just one year prior. On December 31, 2024, he hosted a marathon 4.5-hour直播 (livestream) from the Xiaomi car factory, bridging the gap between the years with a mix of casual conversation, company performance reviews, and future goal announcements. That broadcast was notable for its relaxed tone, where Lei Jun set personal goals like learning to operate a forklift and discussed ambitious decade-long plans to build multiple world-class factories. It set a high bar for combining corporate messaging with personal engagement, making these events a significant fixture in the tech calendar.
Context on Previous Livestream: The postponed event follows the format of Lei Jun's successful 2024-12-31 New Year's livestream, which lasted 4.5 hours and featured:
- Casual conversation and "companionship" with viewers.
- Review of company performance and announcement of future goals.
- Personal objectives set by Lei Jun (e.g., learning to drive a forklift).
- Long-term vision discussions, including plans for building multiple world-class factories.
Looking Ahead to the Rescheduled Reveal
With the new date set for January 3, 2026, attention now turns to what the rescheduled teardown will reveal. The live format offers a rare, unscripted look at the Yu7's construction, potentially covering areas such as battery pack integration, motor placement, chassis design, and interior material quality. For potential buyers and industry watchers, this transparency can be a powerful trust-building tool. While the shift from a festive New Year's Eve event to a regular weekday broadcast changes the context, the core appeal—an unfiltered look inside a prominent new EV from one of tech's most visible leaders—remains intact. The tech community will be watching closely to see if Lei Jun's health recovers in time and what insights the delayed拆车 (car teardown) ultimately provides.