In a highly anticipated and lengthy live stream on January 3rd, 2026, Xiaomi's founder and CEO Lei Jun directly addressed a wave of controversies and online criticism that has surrounded the company, particularly its automotive division, over the past year. The event, delayed from its original New Year's Eve slot due to Lei Jun's illness, was framed as a "teardown" of the new Xiaomi YU7 SUV but quickly evolved into a wide-ranging public rebuttal. Lei Jun and Xiaomi's new head of public relations, Xu Jieyun, tackled topics from marketing practices and performance claims to what they described as coordinated smear campaigns, offering a rare, unfiltered look at the pressures facing one of China's most prominent tech giants as it expands into the competitive electric vehicle market.
Timing Note: The live stream was originally scheduled for December 31, 2025, but was postponed due to Lei Jun having a "heavy cold." It was held on January 3, 2026.
A Teardown with a Message
The live stream's central visual was the systematic disassembly of a Xiaomi YU7 standard edition vehicle. While showcasing the car's internal structure, materials, and design philosophy—such as its three-layer HEPA filtration system and chassis construction—the primary purpose was clearly demonstrative. Lei Jun stated that the act of publicly dismantling a car was a testament to Xiaomi's confidence in its product quality and manufacturing transparency. He invited more automotive reviewers and bloggers to conduct their own teardowns, urging them to provide "fair commentary" and avoid "deliberately exaggerating or nitpicking for the sake of traffic."
Xiaomi YU7 Key Specifications & Claims (from Live Stream):
- Model Teardown: YU7 Standard Edition
- CLTC Range (Standard Edition): 835 km
- Notable Feature: 3-layer HEPA air filtration system, claimed to filter 99.95% of particles ≥0.3 microns (compared to N95's 95% standard).
- 2025 Delivery Result: 410,000 vehicles
- 2026 Delivery Target: 550,000 vehicles
- Controversy Clarifications:
- "200 km/h instant stop": Figurative description of SU7 Ultra brake performance.
- "1,300 km on one charge": Personal achievement during a winter range test, not an official spec.
- "Fine Print Marketing": Acknowledged as an "industry bad habit"; pledged to reform.
- "Greenbelt Warrior": Label attributed to malicious editing of accident videos.
- "Xiaomi vs. millet": Denied as a misleading homophone-based rumor.
Addressing the "Black Water Army" and Online Attacks
A significant portion of the nearly four-hour broadcast was devoted to what Lei Jun and Xu Jieyun characterized as malicious online campaigns. They vehemently denied the viral narrative that "Xiaomi is preventing farmers from selling millet," calling it a "completely misleading" distortion that played on the homophone between the company name and the grain. Lei Jun, emphasizing his rural upbringing, expressed personal anger over the claim. More broadly, they addressed the phenomenon of "black water armies"—coordinated groups posting negative content—which they allege have targeted Xiaomi with "malicious editing" and "out-of-context" quotes. Xu Jieyun specifically cited the "Greenbelt Warrior" label attached to compilations of Xiaomi car accidents as an example of this "tagging" behavior, which he said had led to personal attacks against Xiaomi car owners. Lei Jun announced that Xiaomi would strengthen its legal team in 2026 to combat these actions, dismissing an online rumor about having "7,000 lawyers" as absurd.
Clarifying Performance Claims and Marketing "Fine Print"
Two technical claims that had drawn scrutiny were directly explained. The "200 km/h instant stop" phrase was clarified as a figurative expression of admiration for the braking performance of the SU7 Ultra during a test, akin to saying one "binge-watched a dozen episodes in one go." The "1,300 km on a single charge" statement was contextualized as Lei Jun's personal achievement during a winter range test in a standard YU7 (with an 835 km CLTC rating), not a blanket specification promise. They argued that presenting these as examples of false advertising was a form of "awkward blackening" or deliberate misinterpretation. On the industry-wide practice of using "fine print" disclaimers in advertising materials, Lei Jun called it an "industry bad habit." Xu Jieyun explained that such footnotes are often added for legal compliance, citing the example of the "King of Backlighting" slogan for a Xiaomi phone, which had a small text note clarifying it was a "design target." While defending the technical truth of the claims behind the small print, Lei Jun pledged that Xiaomi would "start now and reform immediately," moving towards using clearer, larger text in its future marketing communications.
Outlook and Objectives for 2026
Beyond addressing controversies, Lei Jun shared business updates. He revealed that Xiaomi delivered 410,000 vehicles in 2025 and set an ambitious target of 550,000 deliveries for 2026, representing a 34% year-over-year growth target. He concluded the stream on a reflective note, stating that the constant criticism had given him a "psychological shadow," making him overly cautious in his public statements. He expressed a desire to communicate more freely and authentically, hoping for a more balanced and fair online discourse around Xiaomi's products and ambitions.