Lei Jun Uses the Electric YU7 to Debunk Rumors — and the Stream Goes Viral 🚗⚡
Xiaomi founder and CEO Lei Jun took an unusual and highly public approach to address online criticism: he live-disassembled one of Xiaomi’s electric SUVs to respond directly to rumors spreading across social media.
The five-hour live stream, held on January 3, featured engineers dismantling a Xiaomi YU7, the company’s second mass-produced electric vehicle, while Lei Jun explained design decisions and clarified misconceptions.
The bold move quickly went viral and positioned Xiaomi’s leadership at the center of a heated debate about EV safety, transparency, and misinformation.
🚙 Why the Xiaomi YU7 Was Under Fire
In the days leading up to the broadcast, short, heavily edited videos circulated online, raising alarms about the YU7’s performance and safety.
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CLICK HERE🔍 Main Viral Claims vs Xiaomi’s Response
| Viral Claim 🚨 | Xiaomi’s Explanation 🛡️ |
|---|---|
| “Instant braking at 200 km/h” | Clips were taken from internal testing and edited out of context |
| Wheels detaching during crashes | This is a deliberate safety mechanism, not a defect |
| 1,300 km range on one charge | The figure referred to one intermediate recharge, not a single charge |
| Poor structural integrity | Vehicle uses 2,200 MPa ultra-high-strength steel |
Lei Jun stated that while some footage was authentic, it had been selectively edited to create misleading narratives.
🗣️ “I want everyone to see where our responsibility lies in car manufacturing,”
— Lei Jun, during the live broadcast
🧠 Engineering Under the Microscope
Once the initial rebuttal was complete, the stream shifted into a deep technical teardown of the YU7.
🏗️ Key Engineering Highlights
- 2,200 MPa ultra-high-strength steel
- Developed in collaboration with Wang Guodong’s research team
- Among the strongest materials used in production vehicles
- Designed to maximize cabin protection
- Wheel detachment mechanism
- Intended to redirect crash energy
- Helps reduce cabin deformation in severe collisions
- A known strategy in advanced automotive safety engineering
Engineers walked viewers through structural components, explaining why each design choice was made.
💬 Managing the Live Stream
- 💬 Comments initially disabled
- Xiaomi said this was to prevent coordinated online attacks
- 🔓 Chat later reopened
- Allowed real-time interaction once technical explanations were underway
This approach balanced damage control with public engagement.
🔧 What Happens to the Disassembled SUV?
Lei Jun confirmed that:
- The YU7 will be fully reassembled
- It will undergo complete quality inspections
- 🚫 It will not be sold
- 🧪 The vehicle will be used for internal testing or experimental purposes
- 🎥 The reassembly will not be livestreamed
📈 Xiaomi Automobile: Big Numbers, Bigger Ambitions
During the same presentation, Lei Jun shared Xiaomi’s automotive performance and future goals:
🚀 Production & Sales Targets
| Year | Vehicles Delivered 🚘 |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 410,000 units |
| 2026 (Target) | 550,000 units |
Lei Jun described the 2026 goal as ambitious but achievable, with the YU7 playing a central role in Xiaomi’s EV expansion strategy.
🧩 Final Takeaway
Xiaomi’s decision to physically dismantle a car on live video represents a rare level of transparency in the automotive world. Whether viewed as bold confidence or calculated crisis management, the event reinforced Xiaomi’s message:
🔧 Engineering over rumors
📢 Facts over viral clips
🚗 Transparency as a brand strategy
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