In a detailed and unconventional New Year's live stream on January 3rd, 2026, Xiaomi's founder and CEO, Lei Jun, took a hands-on approach to showcase the company's latest electric vehicle, the YU7. Rather than a standard presentation, the event featured engineers physically disassembling a brand-new YU7 on camera. This "teardown"直播 served as a platform for Lei Jun to address recent discussions and highlight what he claims are significant, yet often unseen, engineering investments in areas like cabin quietness, material strength, and occupant safety, with a particular emphasis on features designed for families and female drivers.
A Focus on Unseen Quality and Cabin Experience
Lei Jun emphasized that a vehicle's sense of luxury and quality is heavily influenced by details that aren't immediately visible. During the disassembly, he pointed out the extensive use of over 120 pieces of sound-absorbing material throughout the YU7's body structure. He argued that substantial resources were allocated to such components, including advanced thermal insulation and sun protection materials, which collectively enhance the cabin's acoustic comfort and overall refinement. This focus on "invisible" engineering, according to Lei, is a cornerstone of the YU7's value proposition beyond its headline specifications.
Key Specifications & Claims from the YU7 Teardown Event:
- Cabin Quietness: Utilizes over 120 pieces of specialized sound-absorbing material.
- Air Filtration: Cabin air filter rated at 99.95% particulate filtration efficiency (claimed superior to N95 mask standard of 95%).
- Health Rating: Awarded "Five-Star Healthy Car" certification for air quality, health protection, and green travel.
- Powertrain Efficiency: Features an upgraded V6s plus motor and silicon carbide (SiC) power conversion for reduced energy consumption and improved low-temperature range.
- Structural Material: Employs a proprietary "Xiaomi Ultra-High-Strength Steel" with a claimed tensile strength of 2200 MPa.
- Safety System: Airbag system designed with female occupant physiology in mind, claiming to exceed national standards for all seating positions and crash conditions.
- Repairability: Energy-absorbing zones designed as replaceable modules to control repair costs after moderate collisions.
Advanced Filtration and a "Five-Star Healthy Car" Design
Addressing health-conscious consumers, especially families, Lei Jun detailed the YU7's cabin air filtration system. He claimed its efficiency surpasses that of N95 masks, filtering out 99.95% of particulates compared to the mask's 95% standard. This design philosophy, centered on passenger well-being, contributed to the YU7 receiving a "Five-Star Healthy Car" rating. Lei stated the car was developed with family needs in mind, aiming to alleviate parental concerns about air quality and provide a safer environment for children.
Engineering for Efficiency and Extended Range
When discussing the YU7's touted strong续航 (range), Lei Jun moved beyond the simple explanation of a large battery pack. He elaborated on a holistic engineering approach that contributes to efficiency. This includes the use of an upgraded V6s plus motor with improved operational efficiency and the integration of silicon carbide (SiC) technology for superior power conversion. He described a comprehensive energy optimization effort across all vehicle systems, leading to significantly reduced energy consumption. This multi-angle enhancement, he claimed, results in excellent overall range performance, which remains robust even in低温 (low-temperature) conditions.
Safety Innovations with a Focus on Female Occupants
Safety was a major theme, with Lei Jun directly responding to public discourse. He defended the use of a proprietary "Xiaomi Ultra-High-Strength Steel," developed in collaboration with academic and industry partners, stating its 2200 MPa tensile strength is among the highest in mass-produced vehicles. He invited skeptics to conduct their own tests, asserting the material's credentials are "as genuine as they come." Furthermore, he highlighted that the YU7's safety气囊 (airbag) system was specifically designed with female occupants in mind. Recognizing that female and male physiques differ, the system's deployment parameters and protection coverage for "all seating positions under all conditions" are engineered to exceed national standards.
Addressing Practical Concerns: Repairability and Cost
Acknowledging consumer worries about potential repair costs, especially related to large cast components, Lei Jun used the disassembly to illustrate design for serviceability. He pointed to the rear energy-absorbing crumple zones, explaining that in moderate-speed collisions, only these specific, replaceable sections would need attention, keeping costs manageable. While the large castings provide immense structural strength in severe accidents for occupant protection, he assured viewers that reparability was a key consideration from the initial design phase several years ago.