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Just over a month after launching its first-ever EV, smartphone specialist Xiaomi is reportedly well into the development of an encore model. Per the report, Xiaomi Automobile has already been benchmarking an all-electric SUV model against the Tesla Model Y and may be competing against it in the market sooner than you’d think.

It’s been just over three years since Chinese electronics manufacturer Xiaomi announced a new EV-focused arm called Xiaomi Automobile. During that time, we followed much of the smartphone developer’s transition into automotive manufacturing, which ended up progressing faster than even it had anticipated.

Those efforts culminated in Xiaomi’s first model – the SU7 sedan, which gained some serious clout when it debuted this spring, garnering over 50,000 orders in the first 27 minutes of going on sale in China.

With its SU7 order books now sitting at over 100,000 units, Xiaomi has begun wielding its production expertise to ramp up its output to meet demand. In the first 32 days of SU7 production, the new automaker reported that it had already built 10,000 units en route to 90,000 more targeted before the end of the year.

While the SU7 continues to make its mark on the EV market, Xiaomi is reportedly already deep into developing a second model to compete against the global EV market’s current best-seller, the Tesla Model Y.

Xiaomi SU7
The Xiaomi SU7 sedan / Source: Xiaomi Automobile / Wiebo

Xiaomi gets rolling in China, sets its sights on Tesla

Per a report by Bloomberg, Xiaomi’s second all-electric model will be a compact SUV similar to the ever-popular Tesla Model Y. A person familiar with the matter said that Xiaomi was already benchmarking the Model Y during the incoming SUV’s development, setting the stage for s showdown between the smartphone specialist and the American automaker in China.

When Xiaomi began brainstorming its new EV arm three years ago, an SUV was part of the initial plans, but ultimately, it decided to focus on the SU7 sedan first, which remains its priority at the moment.

That being said, the Tesla Model Y competitor is already in the works, and Xiaomi is reportedly targeting a start of production by late 2025 once the second phase of its EV production facility in Yizhuang, Beijing, is completed.

That facility is expected to reach an annual production capacity of 300,000 units annually. Phase one is expected to be completed next month, offering Xiaomi a capacity of about 150,000 EVs annually. Phase two is scheduled to begin expansion sometime in 2024.

According to Chinese media outlet 36kr, Xiaomi also plans to launch a third, lower-priced EV model after the SU7 sedan and SUV to compete against Tesla, but the automaker has not confirmed those plans.

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Wheel-E Podcast: ’70 MPH e-bikes’, Vietnam bans gasoline bikes, more

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Wheel-E Podcast: '70 MPH e-bikes', Vietnam bans gasoline bikes, more

This week on Electrek’s Wheel-E podcast, we discuss the most popular news stories from the world of electric bikes and other nontraditional electric vehicles. This time, that includes “70 MPH e-bikes” prompting new law changes, recalled Amazon/Walmart e-bikes, Vietnam banning gasoline-powered motorcycles, and more.

The Wheel-E podcast returns every two weeks on Electrek’s YouTube channel, Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter.

As a reminder, we’ll have an accompanying post, like this one, on the site with an embedded link to the live stream. Head to the YouTube channel to get your questions and comments in.

After the show ends, the video will be archived on YouTube and the audio on all your favorite podcast apps:

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We also have a Patreon if you want to help us to avoid more ads and invest more in our content. We have some awesome gifts for our Patreons and more coming.

Here are a few of the articles that we will discuss during the Wheel-E podcast today:

Here’s the live stream for today’s episode starting at 8:00 a.m. ET (or the video after 9:00 a.m. ET):

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Exxon earnings beat estimates as production growth softens impact of lower oil prices

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Exxon earnings beat estimates as production growth softens impact of lower oil prices

Exxon earnings beat estimates as production growth softens impact of lower oil prices

Exxon Mobil reported second-quarter earnings on Friday that declined significantly compared to last year, though the company beat Wall Street estimates as production growth in the Permian Basin and Guyana softened the impact of lower oil prices.

Exxon’s net income fell 23% to $7.1 billion, or $1.64 per share, compared to $9.2 billion, or $2.14 per share, in the same period last year.

Here is what Exxon reported for the second quarter compared with what Wall Street was expecting, based on a survey of analysts by LSEG:

  • Earnings per share: $1.64 vs. $1.54 expected
  • Revenue: $81.5 billion vs. $80.77 billion expected

The oil major pumped 4.6 million barrels per day, the highest output for the second quarter since Exxon and Mobil merged more than 25 years ago. Production in the Permian hit a record 1.6 million bpd.

Exxon’s production business posted a profit of $5.4 billion, down 23% from about $7.1 billion in the same period last year on lower oil prices. Its refining business booked earnings of $1.37 billion globally, up 44% compared to $946 million in the year-ago period due to higher refining margins.

Exxon paid out $9.2 billion to shareholders, including more than $4 billion in dividends and $5 billion in share repurchases. The oil major said it’s on pace to purchase $20 billion of shares this year.

Exxon has slashed its costs by $1.4 billion so far this year and $13.5 billion since 2019. It is aiming to cut another $4.5 billion through the end of 2030.

This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

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Chevron profit hit by low crude oil prices and loss from Hess acquisition

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Chevron profit hit by low crude oil prices and loss from Hess acquisition

Chevron profit hit by low crude oil prices and loss from Hess acquisition

Chevron on Friday reported second-quarter earnings that took a substantial hit due to low oil prices and a loss on its acquisition of Hess Corporation.

The oil major’s net income declined about 44% to $2.49 billion, or $1.45 per share, from $4.43 billion, or $2.43 per share, in the same period last year.

Chevron booked a $215 million loss on the fair value measurement of Hess shares. When adjusted for that charge and other one-time items, Chevron earned $1.77 per share to beat Wall Street estimates.

Here is what Chevron reported for the second quarter compared with what Wall Street was expecting, based on a survey of analysts by LSEG:

  • Earnings per share: $1.77 adjusted vs. $1.70 expected
  • Revenue: $44.82 billion vs. $43.82 billion expected

Chevron completed its acquisition of Hess on July 18, after prevailing against Exxon Mobil in a long-running dispute that threatened to blow up the $53 billion deal. An arbitration court rejected Exxon’s claim to a right of first refusal over lucrative Hess assets in Guyana, clearing the way for Chevron to complete the transaction after a long delay.

Chevron expects the deal to begin adding to earnings in the fourth quarter. It also hopes to reduce annual run-rate costs by $1 billion by the end of 2025.

Chevron pumped a record 3.4 million barrels per day worldwide for the quarter, a 3% increase over the same period last year. U.S. production jumped about 8% to 1.69 million bpd compared to the year-ago period, with production in the Permian Basin hitting 1 million bpd. The Hess acquisition will add assets in the Bakken formation and Gulf of Mexico in addition to Guyana.

Chevron’s production business posted a profit of $2.72 billion, down 38% from $4.47 billion in the same period last year due to lower oil prices. Its refining business booked earnings of $737 million, up 23% from $597 million last year on higher margins for product sales.

Chevron paid out $5.5 billion to shareholders in the quarter, including $2.6 billion in share buybacks and $2.9 billion in dividends.

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