Xiaomi Launches Extended-Range SUVs as Hybrid Boom Fades

China’s Xiaomi Corp. has entered the extended-range hybrid SUV segment with two new models, betting on big batteries and flexible interiors just as the category’s growth stalls. The SkyNomad (Pengcheng) series, unveiled July 30, opens pre-sales at 259,900 yuan ($38,389) and is scheduled for official release in September, according to Caixin Global.

A Cooling Market

The launch comes at a difficult moment for extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs). Retail sales in the segment tumbled 19.4% year on year in the first half of 2026, nearly triple the decline of pure-electric cars, while dealers faced inventory pressure, Caixin reported. Analysts describe a “fading extended-range dividend”: ultrafast charging, longer battery ranges and lower running costs have eroded the no-range-anxiety advantage that made hybrids popular after Li Auto’s Li ONE.

Even Li Auto, the segment’s pioneer, has felt the shift. Its first-half deliveries fell 5.1% year on year to 193,500 units, Cyzone.cn reported, and its best-selling model is now a pure-electric car. New entrants such as Aion and XPeng have further split demand.

The New Models

Xiaomi’s answer is an architecture-first approach. The two SUVs—the N70 Max and N90 Max—are built on the Kunlun platform, developed over about 3.5 years, with a flat floor, sliding rails up to 1,938 mm and 7+N cabin configurations. A large battery sits at the center of the design: the top 76 kWh pack gives the N90 Max a claimed 464 km of pure-electric range and a combined range of 1,705 km, while the 1.5T range extender runs on 92-octane fuel with fuel consumption of 6.1 L/100 km when depleted. NetEase Auto described the line as “smart variable large-space SUVs” and noted the cars come with a full suite of driver-assistance hardware as standard.

Xiaomi also made safety a central theme of the event. The Kunlun architecture includes an all-domain safety system, and the N90 Max uses 90.4% high-strength steel and aluminum, 12 airbags and an 18-layer battery protection package. The emphasis follows a highly publicized fatal crash involving an SU7 Ultra in October 2025 and a separate SU7 fire in early 2026; Caixin noted that the company stressed safety in the new lineup.

Financial Pressure

The launch also comes at a delicate time for Xiaomi’s finances. Its EV business swung to an operating loss of 3.1 billion yuan in the first quarter of 2026 on revenue of 19.9 billion yuan, after posting its first quarterly profits in the second half of 2025, according to OFweek. The loss reflected a product transition, with the refreshed SU7 sedan only beginning deliveries in late March, as well as higher costs and promotional spending.

Xiaomi now runs three model lines—the SU7 sedan, the YU7 SUV and the SkyNomad extended-range family—less than three years after selling its first car. The company had previously left the extended-range market to rivals such as Li Auto and Aito, and the new launch is its attempt to claim a share of family buyers who still worry about charging on long trips.

What to Watch

The key question is whether a “big-battery” extended-range car can revive interest in a cooling segment. Caixin’s coverage framed the vehicles as designed for a week of pure-electric commuting, with the combustion engine as a backup—an effort to deliver most of the benefits of an EV while keeping long-distance flexibility.

The answer will begin to emerge in September, when the cars go on sale and deliveries ramp up. Watch pre-sale order volumes, production speed and dealer feedback for the first signs of whether Xiaomi can turn a late entry into a new growth engine—or whether it has entered the party just as it is winding down.