Will Chinese EV Maker Xiaomi Compete With Tesla In US? CEO Lei Jun Says 'We Have No...'

Amid rumors of Chinese EV makers possibly entering the U.S. market, Xiaomi Corp. (OTC:XIACY) (OTC:XIACF) founder and CEO Lei Jun has denied a possible entry of the company's EV arm in the U.S. after images surfaced of the SU7 Sedan being tested in California.

No Plans To Enter US

In a post on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, the CEO confirmed there were no plans for a U.S. debut. "A YU7 was traveling on a highway in California, carrying a local test license plate," he said. He then quelled rumors of Xiaomi's debut in the U.S.

"We have no plans to enter the U.S. market at this time," the CEO said in the post, adding that he thinks it was a standard purchase by another company to possibly conduct testing.

The U.S. EV market is dominated by Elon Musk‘s Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA), with the company currently holding over 58% market share. Tesla’s Model Y also emerged as the best-selling EV in the U.S. for 2025.

Xiaomi-Ford Partnership?

The news comes as reports emerged of Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F) reportedly being in talks with Xiaomi to explore partnership opportunities between the two manufacturers, but Ford denied any such reports.

However, Ford CEO Jim Farley has been vocal about his admiration of Chinese EVs on several occasions. Ford is also reportedly exploring a partnership with China’s BYD Co. Ltd. (OTC:BYDDY) (OTC:BYDDF) to procure batteries for its Hybrid vehicles.

Xiaomi SU7 Ultra Sales

The SU7 Ultra has seen a sharp drop in its sales. The EV clocked in just  45 units sold in December 2025 in China. However, the SU7 Ultra still managed to hit the CEO's target of selling 10,000 units of the car.

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