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Xiaomi YU7 Max Electrek Hero

I had the chance to test drive the Xiaomi YU7 ahead of its launch today in China, and I came out of the entire experience both impressed and frustrated.

Let me try to explain why, and also why Western automakers are scared of these new Chinese EVs.

When I was a kid, I remember asking my dad why good-looking vehicles, like exotic supercars, cost so much more than regular cars. In my childish innocence, while I could understand that more performance and higher quality materials cost more, I couldn’t wrap my head around why automakers couldn’t make average performing cars with regular materials but with more aggressive and cooler designs.

My dad tried his best to explain the concept of scarcity and the limitations of different form factors in achieving higher sales volumes, but we ultimately agreed that automakers could technically produce more affordable vehicles with better, more aggressive designs.

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Of course, concepts like manufactured scarcity are complex to understand as a child, but the thought did stick with me that a company could mass-produce great exotic-looking cars for more reasonable prices.

That’s basically what Xiaomi is doing now.

One of Xiaomi’s taglines is “make innovative technology accessible to everyone.” That sounds like corporate talk, but I have to admit that it is living up to it with its electric vehicles. I’m not as familiar with its electronics, but I am hearing it’s a similar situation.

The company is facing criticism for the SU7’s resemblance to the Porsche Taycan, and now the YU7’s similarity to the Ferrari Purosangue is undeniable. However, you can’t tell me there’s no market for an all-electric Purosangue with actually higher performance, better tech, more utility, and for a tenth of the price?

That’s basically what the Xiaomi YU7 is and more.

Ultimately, every great car design is heavily inspired by other vehicles. Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun has been spotted driving the Purosangue, Ferrari’s latest $400,000 performance SUV, and it sounds like he thought: “Wouldn’t be nice if this were all-electric, with Xiaomi tech, and more affordable so hundreds of thousands of people could experience it?”

It turns out that, yes, it would be nice.

Xiaomi YU7 electric SUV Specs

Xiaomi is calling it an “SUV” due to the true meaning of the word: “sport utility vehicle,” but it doesn’t look like your average SUV.

When you lift the air suspension to the max (3″ of travel), it does look like more like one, but most of the time, it looks like a sporty wagon, which I love.

Xiaomi hasn’t been shy about going after the Tesla Model Y with the YU7, which is not a bad target considering it’s the best-selling vehicle in the world. The goal is drawing a lot of comparisons, so here are the dimensions compared with Tesla’s SUV:

Model Wheelbase Length Width* Height Kerb Weight
Xiaomi YU7 3,000 mm (118.1 in) 4,999 mm (196.8 in) 1,996 mm (78.6 in) 1,600 mm (63.0 in) 2,140 – 2,460 kg (4,718 – 5,423 lb)
Tesla Model Y (2025) 2,891 mm (113.8 in) 4,751 mm (187 in) 1,920 mm (75.6 in) 1,624 mm (63.9 in) 1,884 – 1,998 kg (4,154 – 4,404 lb)

As you can see, it is about a foot longer than the Model Y, 3 inches wider, and a little shorter.

It’s also quite a bit heavier, but that’s because it’s equipped with a significantly larger battery pack.

Tesla doesn’t officially disclose the capacity of its battery pack, but in the latest Model Y, they are estimated to be about 62 kWh for the base version and ~80 kWh for the long range version.

As for the YU7, it features a 96 kWh battery pack with LFP cells from BYD in both the standard and Pro versions.

The YU7 Max, the version I tested, is equipped with a 101 kWh battery pack with NMC battery cells from CATL.

The result is that the base YU7 achieves 835 km of range on a single charge, while the Max version achieves 760 km. The base version is equipped with a single RWD motor, making it the most efficient and therefore, the longest range.

Here are all the ranges of the different variants compared to Tesla’s own CLTC range in China:

Variant CLTC Range (km / mi)
Xiaomi YU7 (RWD) 835 km / 519 mi
Xiaomi YU7 Pro (AWD) 770 km / 478 mi
Xiaomi YU7 Max (AWD) 760 km / 472 mi
Tesla Model Y RWD 593 km / 369 mi
Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD 719 km / 447 mi

The CLTC standard is based on the average driving cycle in China, which is more city driving-based than most other markets, and the range would be slightly lower on the WLTP or EPA cycles.

It is a heavy vehicle, but Xiaomi countered that with significant energy capacity. In my experience with the performance electric SUV, you could easily get 500 km of highway driving on a single charge with the Max as long as you don’t go too much over the speed limit.

I looked at the energy stats of the YU7 Max that Xiaomi let me test, and it had consumed 1,113 kWh over 4,868 km:

However, the vehicle had been used as a press car, with people, including myself, driving it quite aggressively up and down mountain roads, mostly in “sport mode,” for the last week.

Even then, it still achieved an efficiency 4.3 km per kWh. I could see the efficiency improve by double digits if driven more normally, with a higher mix of comfort or eco modes, and with the smaller wheels.

But if I only get a few hours with a vehicle, I’m likely to spend most of my time in sports mode.

If you run out of range, charging can be extremely fast with the YU7. Xiaomi claims a 5.2C peak charging capacity, which on the highest capacity chargers will result in charging from 10 to 80% state-of-charge in 21 minutes for the variants with LFP cells (Standard and Pro) and only 12 minutes for the Max, which is powered by NMC cells.

As for the YU7’s power capacity, here are the different motor variants:

Variant Motor Configuration Power Output (kW) Torque (Nm) 0–100 km/h (s) Top Speed (km/h)
YU7 (RWD) Single rear-motor 235 kW 528 Nm 5.88 240
YU7 Pro (AWD) Dual motors (front + rear) 365 kW total 690 Nm 4.27 240
YU7 Max (AWD) Dual motors (220 kW front + 288 kW rear) 508 kW total 866 Nm 3.23 253

Again, I can only discuss the Max version, which was the one available to us during the press test drives ahead of the launch.

Here’s my video that goes into details about the Xiaomi YU7:

Xiaomi YU7 Driving Impression

A little further down, I’ll talk about all the technology, connectivity, and user interface in the YU7. As Xiaomi is known for its consumer electronics, I had high expectations in that regard, and I was confident that they would impress me.

The vehicle aspect is where I had more doubts, but I kept an open mind. After all, Xiaomi didn’t even have a vehicle division 5 years ago, and now they have the best-selling premium sedan in the world’s largest auto market.

As I write this, I haven’t had the chance to test the SU7, but I’m trying to get some time in the vehicle before leaving China. Talking to other journalists who have driven it, I’m told that it is a fun and impressive vehicle to drive, but that Xiaomi has also managed to make significant improvements and refinements with the YU7 in a short period of time.

The YU7 is heavy, but with the Max’s more than 500 kW powertrain, the weight disappears instantly when you need to go. The vehicle feels solid and planted to the road, thanks to its low center of gravity, especially at the lowest suspension setting.

Speaking of the suspension, it features a double wishbone in the front and a 5-link independent setup in the back, paired with standard air suspension, which adds 3 inches of adjustable height. For this price point, it’s hard to beat.

We mostly drove the car up and down mountain roads about 3 hours outside of Beijing. I couldn’t reach anywhere near the car’s 253 km/h (157 mph) top speed, but I was able to experience some cornering and handling, and the suspension’s active dampening was useful.

A documentary crew has been following me on my travels in China, and they attempted to film me in a Land Rover Evoque equipped with a crane camera. However, the SUV kept overheating before reaching the top of the 4-km hill climb, whereas the YU7 managed to complete the climb repeatedly all afternoon without issue.

The battery cooling system would be a bit loud, but you would only hear it from the outside, as the cabin isolation is incredible in this car. Xiaomi used double-paned glass everywhere, complemented by active noise canceling. It is exceptionally quiet, which is a big part of a luxury car experience in my book.

Another thing that I’ve found extremely impressive with the YU7 is the level of customization. Even something as simple as regenerative braking can be customized. You have a low, normal, and custom mode. In the custom mode, you can choose to have regen braking anywhere between 0 and 100%. At 100%, it is pretty much one pedal driving.

You can also customize your own driving mode with a ton of different options, including your power distribution from front to back, making the dual motor Max variant a RWD vehicle if you want:

I suggest watching my video about the YU7 for more details on customizing the driving modes.

The head-up display is also highly customizable. It’s not a typical HUD like augmented reality projecting onto the windshield – something the Xiaomi SU7 is equipped with.

The YU7 is instead equipped with a meter-long display that appears to be mounted deep into the dash. It’s an interesting feature that’s genuinely well-implemented. You can set it up to have your instrument cluster information on the driver side, and the position of the display, which almost appears to be floating between the dash and the windshield, is right at the bottom of your field of vision when driving.

The advantage is that everyone inside the car can actually see, unlike an augmented reality heads-up display. With the level customization, it can be useful to all passengers – although primarily the front passenger.

The high level of customization, both at the software level and at the accessory level, makes me feel like YU7 owners could really tune the vehicle to their liking over time, and your experience would get a lot better over the first few months as you learn more about the car.

At the accessory level, Xiaomi even offers a seamless add-on that snaps at the bottom of the main display to add analog buttons for climate control and a media volume dial.

The seats are perforated, ventilated, and extremely comfortable. Both front seats have massaging functions as standard, and they can lie back into zero-gravity position. Yes, even the driver’s seat.

The level of comfort is pretty impressive for a vehicle in that price range.

There’s also a lot of room in the back seats, which are also reclining, albeit not as much as the front seats, but they still go back to 135 degrees:

From the back seat, you can also access an optional mini fridge that fits under the center console. There are also optional mounting systems for tablets to fit behind each of the front seats.

Since Xiaomi has many smart home devices, YU7 owners can also purchase magnetic customizable buttons that can snap onto the center console or the B pillars and they can link into the Xiaomi app to initiate functions inside your car or your home if you have smart devices.

Honestly, there are too many tech and connectivity features in this car to list them out, but I do go through a lot of them in my video review.

The last piece of tech I’ll discuss is the ADAS system, which it is Xiaomi HAD. Xiaomi has packed the YU7 with an impressive ADAS hardware suite that includes one roof-mounted LiDAR with a 200-metre (660 ft) range, one 4D mmWave radar, 11 cameras, and 12 ultrasonic sensors, and uses an Nvidia DRIVE AGX Thor-U chip capable of 700 TOPS.

Xiaomi is not talking about achieving unsupervised self-driving capabilities with this yet, but it is future-proofing with the extensive hardware suite and this is currently only sold in China, which currently doesn’t allow level 3 and up automated systems in consumer vehicles.

We were able to test the current level 2 capacity, which includes automated lane changes on the highway, traffic-aware cruise control, and lane keeping, to a level similar to what I’ve experienced with Tesla Autopilot.

They even have a feature in beta that lets you see what the lidar sensor sees around the road in real-time.

The ADAS system also provides all the active safety features that you expect from a modern vehicle.

While it’s too early for the YU7 to have a safety rating, the SU7 had the highest overall score for any vehicle tested with the 2024 standards in the C-NCAP safety testing results.

For the YU7, Xiaomi developed its own ultra-strong steel alloy to reinforce several parts of the vehicle:

We won’t know until there’s indepent crash testing, but Xiaomi appears to be confident that the YU7 will perform well in those.

Xiaomi YU7 Pricing and availability

I drove the YU7 almost a week ago now, but we had an embargo until the launch event today, and Xiaomi didn’t want to elaborate on the price until CEO Lei Jun took the stage.

However, we had a fairly good idea based on the SU7 pricing and Xiaomi’s apparent attempt to target Tesla’s Model Y in the Chinese market.

Here’s the Xiaomi YU7 pricing per variant:

  • YU7 Standard: 253,500 RMB (equivalent to $35,300 USD)
  • YU7 Pro: 279,900 RMB (equivalent to $39,000 USD)
  • YU7 Max: 329,900 RMB (equivalent to $46,000 USD)

As for availability, deliveries are starting now. I visited the factory yesterday and I saw hundreds of them coming out of it.

For now, the vehicle is only available in China, but Xiaomi is aiming to expand globally starting in 2027.

Electrek’s Take

As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, this was a frustrating test drive because I came out so impressed with this vehicle that I was frustrated knowing there’s no chance I or my friends in Canada and the US could buy it anytime soon due to ridiculous protectionist measures.

Honestly, I would trade my Model 3 performance in a heartbeat for a YU7, but that’s unlikely to happen anytime soon. I’m so impressed, I’m looking into ways to import it in Canada myself.

The form factor is incredible and works beautifully with the design. It packs 100 kWh of energy capacity, which is unprecedented for a vehicle in that price range.

Then, you have an incredibly fast-charging capability, and the vehicle is loaded with tech and connectivity features, all backed by an exceptionally smooth user interface. It’s a hard deal to pass on.

Finally, you add that it is packaged in a fit and finish that is on par, if not better than, what we have come to expect from premium automakers from the West.

Considering how quickly Xiaomi was able to ramp up production of the SU7 to over 30,000 units per month, and despite this, it still has a wait time of over 30 weeks for delivery, even though it is only sold in China, I wouldn’t be surprised if the YU7 becomes as popular, if not more so.

I think it will put a lot of pressure on other premium midsize SUVs in China, especially the Tesla Model Y.

The Xiaomi YU7 embodies why Western automakers are so concerned about Chinese EVs and have lobbied for tariffs on them. They can’t compete with this. At least, not now.

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US EV sales smash records in August as Tesla loses ground

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8 hours ago

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September 10, 2025

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US EV sales smash records in August as Tesla loses ground

US EV sales set yet another record in August, with 146,332 EVs sold, according to the latest numbers from Cox Automotive’s Kelley Blue Book.

That gave EV sales in August a 9.9% share of total new car sales, up from 9.1% in July and the highest yet. With the federal EV tax credit set to expire on September 30, analysts say Q3 2025 is shaping up to be the strongest quarter for EV sales in US history. The current record holder is Q4 2024, when 365,824 EVs were sold.

Prices ticked higher, too. The average transaction price (ATP) for an EV in August was $57,245, 3.1% more than July’s revised lower ATP of $55,562. Year-over-year, though, EV prices were basically flat, down just 0.1%. The wave of EV sales also helped push up the overall market’s ATP.

Incentives, while not as high as July’s record, remained hefty. EV buyers received discounts averaging over $9,000 in August, equal to 16% of ATP. That’s more than double the incentive rate in the overall auto market and up from 13.6% a year ago.

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Tesla, still the US EV sales leader by far, is under pressure. Its ATP rose 2.9% in August to $54,468, which was still down 5.5% year-over-year. Tesla sales dropped 6.7% year-over-year, and the company’s share of the US EV market slid to 38% – its lowest point ever.

Stephanie Valdez Streaty, senior analyst at Cox Automotive, said, “The one constant in the automotive business is that fresh product sells well. While Tesla’s Model Y update has slowed the company’s sales decline, it’s not getting easier for the EV pioneer because the market is now flooded with all-new, fresh EVs from mainstream competitors – consumers have more choice than ever. The current surge in EV sales is being driven by product innovation, motivated dealers, and an urgency ahead of the IRA tax credit phase-out.”

Read more: Tesla leads price cuts as US EV sales post 2nd-best month ever

The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them. 

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.


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Anker SOLIX Fan Fest Sale takes up to 63% off power stations, Tenways CGO600 Pro e-bikes with free $217 bundle $1,599, Bluetti, more

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11 hours ago

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September 10, 2025

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Anker SOLIX Fan Fest Sale takes up to 63% off power stations, Tenways CGO600 Pro e-bikes with free 7 bundle ,599, Bluetti, more

Leading today’s march of Green Deals is Anker’s SOLIX Fan Fest Sale that has increased savings on power stations from Labor Day up to 63%, with offers like the new SOLIX F3000 Portable Power Station starting at $1,649, among others. We also have Tenways’ End of Season Sale that is offering an increased $217 in FREE gear on its CGO600 Pro Lightweight Commuter e-bikes at $1,599, as well as the first discount hitting Bluetti’s new Elite 30 V2 Power Station bundled with a carrying case for $259. From there, EGO has given folks a return low price on an advanced pole saw alongside its Nexus power station, with three one-day only deals from Greenworks and Worx, and more waiting for you below. Plus, there are all the hangover deals collected at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s EcoFlow Home Backup/Hurricane Preparedness Sale, the $799 promotion on Vanpower’s City Vanture Urban Commuter e-bike, and more.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

Anker’s SOLIX Fan Fest Sale increases savings on power stations as high as 63% with deals starting from $120

Anker has launched its SOLIX Fan Fest Sale running through September 21, with up to 63% discounts on its massive power station and accessory lineup – which is an increase from the brand’s Labor Day event. Alongside the low prices we spotted on the EverFrost 2 electric coolers, as well as the launch deals on the new C1000 Gen 2 station, we also noticed the brand’s other recent release, the SOLIX F3000 Portable Power Station dropping to $1,649 shipped during this sale, which sits $1 under Amazon’s pricing. It fetches $2,599 at full price, with discounts having mostly gone as low as $1,699, unless the sales offered bonus savings that saw the cost drop to $1,614 or the one-time $1,599 rate we saw during Prime Day. The deal here is the third-best we have tracked, saving you $950 off the going rate and bringing you one of the latest, upgraded backup power solutions from the Anker flag.

Unlike the new C1000 Gen 2 station, which is a more compact backup option, Anker’s SOLIX F3000 power station brings a whole lot more punch to its game, as it starts with a 3,072Wh LiFePO4 battery capacity that can expand up to 24kWh with investments into the compatible expansion batteries (bundles available below). There are 11 output ports to connect devices/appliances (including a TT-30R AC port for RV backup), which will receive up to 3,600W of power that can be doubled to 7,200W when two stations are connected together.

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One of the SOLIX F3000 power station’s notable upgraded features is the addition of passthrough charging, which it can receive from a generator for up to 3,600W of input, bringing extra versatility to emergency power failures. You’ll also have to options to plug into a standard AC outlet or even charge from an EV. There’s also the max 2,400W solar input that can have it fully recharged in under two hours with optimal sunlight.

***Note: Some of these power stations – particularly the F3800 models, which also get free protective covers – have automatic 5% extra savings that will be added in your cart. Those differences have not been factored in to bracket prices.

Anker’s Fan Fest F3000 deals:

If you want to browse the entirety of Anker’s SOLIX Fan Fest Sale, which includes the above SOLIX F3000 power station discounts, be sure to check out our original and curated coverage of those deals here.

man and woman sit on beach with Tenways CGO600 Pro e-bikes

Tenways End of Season Sale drops 37-pound CGO600 Pro e-bikes to $1,599 with $217 in FREE gear ($2,116 value)

Tenways is continuing most of its Labor Day savings within its newly launched End of Season Sale, which is taking up to $500 off select e-bikes, while also offering an additional $200 discount when buying two. Among the lineup, Tenways’ popular CGO600 Pro Lightweight Commuter e-bikes (both the chain-drive and belt-drive variants) are dropping back down to $1,599 shipped, while also coming with $118 in free gear and a complimentary gift box (a $99 value). Coming down off its $1,899 full tag price, things have been taken lower in the past, though since March we’ve been seeing tariff hikes keep the price up at $1,599, with occasional falls lower to $1,499. You’re still getting a solid $517 savings package with this deal, not to mention the additional savings you can get buying two together and/or verifying your status as a medical provider, first responder, teacher, or military member (giving you an extra $150 off).

If you want to learn more about this lightweight commuter, or browse the other e-bike deals, be sure to check out our original coverage of this sale here.

man and woman sit at table in nature with Bluetti's Elite 30 V2 power station

Bluetti’s new Elite 30 V2 power station bundled with a carrying case gets first discount to $259, more from $219

Through its official Amazon storefront, Bluetti is offering the first chance at savings on its new Elite 30 V2 Portable Power Station bundled with a carrying bag at $259 shipped, after clipping the on-page $140 off coupon, which is unavailable directly from the brand’s website and has no option to buy the bag separately. This bundle package just hit Amazon five days ago, carrying a $399 price tag, with today’s deal being a first-ever chance to save on it. All-in-all, you’re getting $140 in total savings that sets the bar for future discounts down the road.

If you want to learn more about this station’s capabilities, as well as browse the other bundles, be sure to check out our original coverage of these deals here.

EGO's 56V 10-inch carbon fiber pole saw being used to cut off tree branch

Grab EGO’s carbon fiber telescopic pole saw with an LED guide light and 2.5Ah battery at its $299 low

Amazon is offering the EGO Power+ 56V 10-inch Cordless Carbon Fiber Telescopic LED Cut Line Indicator Pole Saw with 2.5Ah battery at $299 shipped. It’s been recently fetching around $389 at full price, with the discounts we’ve seen this year having dropped the costs to this same low rate twice before. It’s coming back around for a $90 markdown, letting you expand your outdoor arsenal at the best price we have tracked.

If you want to learn more about this pole saw, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

man prepping food in pot on burner being powered by EGO Power+ Nexus portable power station

EGO’s modular Nexus power station with two 7.5Ah batteries can also refuel your arsenal at $899

At Amazon, you can currently find the EGO Power+ Nexus Portable Power Station with two 7.5Ah batteries at $899 shipped. This bundled package usually runs for $1,099 without discounts, which we’ve mostly seen keeping down near $999 with discounts. While these drops to $899 are usually rare sightings, the price has been holding out strong since mid-August, with no telling how much longer it may last. Aside from the $838 low we saw once back during Black Friday, you’re otherwise looking at the best tracked price, which saves you $200 off the going rate. If you already have a collection of EGO ARC batteries, you can pick the station up on its own for $593.

If you want to learn more about this power station’s capabilities, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

man cleaning driveway with Greenworks 1,900 PSI electric pressure washer

Greenworks’ framed 1,900 PSI electric pressure washer back at $120 while the 12-inch cleaner attachment is at $23 (Today only)

As part of its Deals of the Day, Best Buy is offering the Greenworks 1,900 PSI Electric Framed Pressure Washer at $119.99 shipped (currently unavailable on Amazon and beating the brand’s direct website by $30), which is running parallel to the one-day-only discount we’re also seeing on the brand’s 12-inch Surface Cleaner Attachment at $22.99 shipped. That pressure washer would normally run you $200 at full price, with discounts mostly taking it to this rate or higher, more often as a one-day-only deal, which has only been beaten out by a one-time discount to $118. For the rest of the day, you can pick one up at $80 off to tackle your outdoor cleaning needs at the next-best price we have tracked – landing just $2 above the all-time low.

If you want to learn more about the pressure washer or cleaner attachment, be sure to check out our original coverage of these one-day-only deals here.

split photo showing the Worx Pegasus 2-in-1 work table and sawhorse holding bags of cement

Gain more portable workspace with Worx’s Pegasus 2-in-1 folding table & sawhorse at $95 (Today only)

As part of its Deals of the Day, Best Buy is offering the Worx Pegasus 2-in-1 Folding Work Table & Sawhorse at $94.99 shipped, which beats out Amazon’s pricing by $42. It usually fetches $140 to $150 at full price across various marketplaces, with discounts over the last year having mostly kept costs above $110, though we have spied some short-term falls as low as $90. For the rest of the day, you can pick it up here with a $55 markdown that lands it at the second-best price of the last 12 months – just $5 above the low we last saw in January.

If you want to learn more about this work table/sawhorse, be sure to check out our original coverage of this one-day-only deal here.

Best Summer EV deals!

Best new Green Deals landing this week

The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.


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Hyundai’s EV plant raided by ICE, ‘hundreds’ taken into custody [Live Updates]

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13 hours ago

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September 10, 2025

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Hyundai's EV plant raided by ICE, 'hundreds' taken into custody [Live Updates]

Hyundai-EV-plant-raided-ICE

The massive new Hyundai EV plant outside of Savannah, Georgia, was raided by ICE last week. Federal agents took hundreds of people into custody at the site, including executives from LG Energy Solution, Hyundai’s battery partner and co-owner of the plant.

Update 09/10/2025: A charter plane was shown taking off from the Incheon International Airport in South Korea on Wednesday, headed for the US.

According to reports (via The Associated Press), the plane landed in Atlanta, but cannot depart the US just yet due to unknown reasons on the US side.

The detainees are currently being held at an immigration detention center in Georgia. They are expected to be released and transferred to the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where the charter plane is waiting to bring them home.

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The battery plant site that was raided is one of over 20 that South Korean companies are currently building in the US.

As the largest workplace raid by the US Homeland Security, the event is quickly spreading backlash among South Koreans.

Charles Kuck, an immigration attorney from Atlanta who represents several of the detained citizens, told The Associated Press that no other company in the US makes the machines used at Hyundai’s plant. So, they had to come from overseas to install or repair equipment at the plant. He added that many were doing so under various visa programs legally.

Why was the Hyundai EV plant raided by ICE?

After celebrating the grand opening of its new Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in Georgia earlier this year, the Korean automaker said it’s “building the future of mobility with America, in America.”

On September 4, a construction site for a new battery plant was raided by US immigration authorities. Up to 475 people were arrested as part of an investigation into undocumented individuals. It was the US Department of Homeland Security’s largest single-site enforcement operation to date.

The South Korean Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Friday, September 5 (via Yonhap News), claiming that the individuals were mistreated.

“The economic activities of our companies investing in the US and the rights and interests of our nationals must not be unfairly violated,” South Korean ministry spokesperson Lee Jae-woong said.

Hyundai-EV-plant-raid
Hyundai IONIQ 9 models, which are built at HMGMA EV plant in Georgia (Source: Hyundai)

The ministry’s spokesperson added that “We conveyed our concern and regret through the US Embassy in Seoul today.” Korea sent officials to Washington and to the Hyundai plant to establish an on-site task force to deal with the matter.

Update 09/08/25: South Korea reached a “broad agreement” on September 7 to release the roughly 300 Korean citizens detained in the US.

A foreign ministry official confirmed on Monday (via Yonhap News) that “We have agreed on a plan to bring all our citizens back home safely via a chartered flight.” The official added that the citizens will head home voluntarily rather than facing deportation.

Hyundai-EV-plant-raided-ICE
The Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (Source: Hyundai)

Backlash is erupting in Korea after video footage circulated on social media showing the detained workers shackled before being loaded onto buses and DEA agents armed with guns outside the facility.

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is in talks with Washington to discuss ways to prevent similar incidents from happening again, including increasing the visa quota for South Korean workers.

Hyundai-EV-plant-raided
Hyundai Motor America CEO Jose Muñoz with Georgia Governor Brian P Kemp at Hyundai Day (Source: Hyundai)

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump still believes the US and South Korea have “a great relationship.” Trump told reporters after a visit to the US Open tennis final on September 8 that “we have a great relationship with South Korea, really good relationship.”

Trump later posted on Truth Social that the US will “make it quickly and legally possible” to bring foreign battery experts to the US, adding, “What we ask in return is that you hire and train American Workers.”

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Hyundai IONIQ 9 built at HMGMA (Source: Hyundai)

Hyundai’s site in Georgia spans nearly 3,000 acres total and includes an assembly facility, two battery plants, a weld shop, and several others for training, logistics, and more.

As the largest economic project in Georgia, the plant, including Hyundai’s suppliers, is expected to create nearly 40,000 jobs while drawing $12.6 billion into the state.

Hyundai currently builds the new 2025 IONIQ 5 and 2026 IONIQ 9, its first three-row electric SUV, at the Georgia facility.

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2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 at a Tesla Supercharger (Source: Hyundai)

The ICE raid came just days after US President Trump hosted South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at the White House. It’s part of the administration’s aggressive crackdown on immigration. Lee has committed to investing another $150 billion in the US, including a new EV battery plant, as it seeks to ease trade tensions.

Check back soon for the latest information, as this is still an ongoing story. We’ll keep you updated with the latest.

Source: The New York Times, Yonhap News


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