Xiaomi doubles down: Sky Nomad is here – a new name for extended-range cars

Xiaomi is making a fresh push into the automotive sector; following the SU7 and Yu7 electric models, it is now set to launch a dedicated category brand for vehicles with EREV (Extended-Range Electric Vehicle) powertrains. Perhaps there was no need for yet another Chinese brand, but it is called Sky Nomad and is technically defined as “series”, i.e. a “product line”, in line with terminology typically used in the smartphone industry. Its first model will be a large SUV featuring extended-range technology: it is, in fact, over 5.3 metres long. The SUV is expected to be fitted with a large battery pack with a capacity exceeding 70 kWh to offer an electric range of between 400 and 500 km. As is well known, extended-range electric vehicles are fitted with a small internal combustion engine to recharge the battery, thereby reducing range anxiety. This technology is becoming increasingly widespread in the Chinese market for large family SUVs. The Sky Nomad SUV could be available in 7- and 5-seater versions and feature semi-concealed door handles. The Sky Nomad is expected to be priced at 200,000 yuan ($29,419), which will put Xiaomi in direct competition with Li Auto and Aito. Of the 10 best-selling extended-range SUVs in China in 2025, seven are from these two brands, all priced at over 250,000 yuan.

The larger, seven-seater version was expected to feature a roof-lifting mechanism that would have allowed a built-in awning to be deployed. The regulatory hurdles to Xiaomi’s launch of the model have been overcome. Indeed, Xiaomi has obtained authorisation from the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology to produce extended-range electric passenger vehicles at its Beijing factory. Prior to this authorisation, Xiaomi had only been producing electric vehicles: the SU7 saloon and the YU7 SUV. The new model is a key part of Xiaomi’s expansion plans, given that the brand had already set a delivery target of 550,000 units for the whole of 2026, representing an increase of around 34 per cent compared to the approximately 410,000 units in 2025. Hence the importance, as mentioned, of the new brand, which could also take off in Europe, where extended-range models are beginning to be seen as viable purchase options.