Xiaomi’s president confirmed plans to sell its ultra popular EVs in Europe, just not for a little while
Executives for Xiaomi Automobile have confirmed the Chinese automotive business’s plans to (eventually) start selling its EVs in new overseas markets, including Europe.
Xiaomi Automobile continues to demonstrate that tech conglomerates with no previous auto experience can make a bona fide impact in the EV industry. Especially when you consider that modern software-defined vehicles (SDVs) are in many ways more closely related to smartphones than they are traditional combustion models.
As a testament to Xiaomi Auto’s mind-boggling growth and success, recall that it has only been about four years since the Chinese smartphone developer announced it would also start building BEVs. Xiaomi came out guns blazing with its flagship model, the SU7 sedan, which hit the market last year and saw 200,000 customer deliveries in a lightning-fast 119 days.
Soon thereafter, Xiaomi shared that it has already developed a second model, which would become known as the YU7 SUV, making its official debut this past May and joining the SU7 as one of the most sought after EV models in China.
For example, current delivery wait times for the SU7 are 41 weeks and 58 weeks for the YU7. This demand actually led Xiaomi CEO, Lei Jun, to boldly suggest that Chinese customers looking for a new car quickly shop somewhere else, recommending EVs from XPeng and even the Tesla Model Y – the SUV Xiaomi specifically called out as its direct competitor with the YU7.
While Xiaomi’s immediate focus remains on meeting unprecedented demand in its native China, company executives have hinted at expansions to new markets, including the possibility of expansion in Europe. Yesterday, Xiaomi president William Lu confirmed plans to sell its EVs in Europe—just not for at least a year and a half.
Xiaomi is aiming to sell its EVs in Europe by 2027
Per a report from CnEVPost, Lu confirmed Xiaomi’s plans for new market entry into Europe during an earnings call, relaying that such plans remain in the research and preparation stage. Lu said that while the Xiaomi name is well known overseas, Xiaomi EVs are not.
The Chinese tech behemoth’s automotive arm has already begun making a name for itself in the EU, particularly on the Nürburgring track in Germany. In June, Xiaomi snagged the fastest lap for a mass-produced EV in the quad-motor SU7 Ultra.
But even before that, Xiaomi wowed onlookers during its first trip to Nürburgring, garnering an invite to the renowned track’s exclusive testing program and a “far-reaching partnership” that includes advertising around the site, such as a sponsored curve on the Grand Prix Circuit.
Other European automakers, like Ferrari, have also taken notice, offering the young Chinese automaker more clout in a new market it hopes to conquer soon. In Q2 2025, Xiaomi delivered a record 81,302 vehicles, up 197.73% YoY and 7.16% compared to Q1.
According to Xiaomi’s recent unaudited financial report, its BEV business generated revenue of RMB 20.6 billion ($2.87 billion) with gross margins reaching 26.4%. While sales and demand remain sky-high, Xiaomi has a major supply issue to resolve in China before expanding to new markets in Europe.
These are good problems to have, but I wouldn’t expect to see any Xiaomi-branded EVs for sale in Europe for at least two years.
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Electricity demand is surging in Texas, and solar, wind, and battery storage are meeting it.
According to new data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), electricity demand across the Texas grid managed by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) hit record highs in the first nine months of 2025. ERCOT, which supplies power to about 90% of the state, saw demand jump 5% year-over-year to 372 terawatt hours (TWh) – a 23% increase since 2021. No other major US grid has grown faster over the past year.
Solar and wind keep ERCOT’s grid steady
The biggest growth story in Texas power generation is solar. Utility-scale solar plants produced 45 TWh from January through September, up 50% from 2024 and nearly four times what they generated in 2021 (11 TWh). Wind power also continued to climb, producing 87 TWh through September – a 4% increase from last year and 36% more than in 2021.
Together, wind and solar supplied 36% of ERCOT’s total electricity over those nine months. Solar, in particular, has transformed Texas’s daytime energy mix. From June to September, ERCOT solar farms generated an average of 24 gigawatts (GW) between noon and 1 pm – double the midday output from 2023. That growth has pushed down natural gas use at midday from 50% of the mix in 2023 to 37% this year.
Battery storage is filling in the gaps
Batteries charge during the day when wind and solar generation are the highest, and they produce electricity when generation from wind and solar slows down. ERCOT began reporting battery output separately in October 2024 in its hourly grid data, and it’s clear that batteries are now helping to smooth out evening peaks. This past summer, batteries supplied an average of 4 GW of power around 8 pm, right as solar production dropped off.
Natural gas is flatlining
Natural gas is still Texas’s dominant power source, but it isn’t growing like it used to. Between January and September, gas-fired plants generated 158 TWh of electricity, compared to 161 TWh in 2023. Gas comprised 43% of ERCOT’s generation mix during the first nine months of 2025, down from 47% in the first nine months of 2023 and 2024.
More demand growth ahead
The EIA expects Texas electricity demand to keep rising faster than any other grid in the US. In its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, the EIA projects ERCOT’s demand will climb another 14% in the first nine months of 2026, reaching 425 TWh. That means Texas will need even more solar, wind, and battery storage to keep up with its breakneck growth.
Read more: This $900 million solar farm in Texas is going 100% to data centers
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GM is recalling nearly 23,000 Chevy Equinox EV and Cadillac Optiq models due to a defect where the tire tread could fall off.
GM is recalling more Chevy Equinox EV models
In a letter sent to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), GM said it has decided to issue a safety recall for certain Chevy Equinox EV and Cadillac Optiq models from model years 2025 to 2026.
This time, it isn’t necessarily GM’s fault. The vehicles may be equipped with 21″ all-season tires that Continental Tire is recalling.
According to Continental, the tires were produced during the week of October 6, 2024, and may have a defect where the tire tread could partially or fully detach. The records show the defect is due to a nonconforming tread base rubber compound.
Owners of affected vehicles may notice unusual tread wear or bulging, vibration while driving, or tire noises. GM is unaware of any incidents related to the defect, but is issuing the recall out of an abundance of caution.
On September 18, 2025, GM inspected the assembly plant and confirmed there were no suspect tires in stock. The 21″ tires come standard on RS trims and are optional on LT1 and LT2 grades.
Although GM is recalling 22,914 Chevy Equinox EVs and Cadillac Optiqs, it estimates that only about 1% of them have the defect.
The recall includes:
- 2026 Cadillac Optiq: 214
- 2026 Chevy Equinox EV: 1,832
- 2025 Cadillac Optiq: 3,468
- 2025 Chevy Equinox EV: 17,400
GM dealers will check all four tires and replace them if needed, free of charge. Dealers were notified on October 16. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed out on December 1, 2025.
You can contact Chevrolet’s customer service number at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac’s at 1-800-333-4223. GM’s recall number is N252525030. Owners can also call the NHTSA hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or visit the nhtsa.gov website for more information.
The Chevy Equinox EV is now the third best-selling EV in the US, trailing only the Tesla Model Y and Model 3. Meanwhile, Cadillac’s entry-level Optiq SUV is the fifth-most-popular luxury EV. The recall is minor and only affects a small percentage of models, so it’s not expected to have a major impact.
If you want to test one of them for yourself, we can help you get started. Check out our links below to find available Chevy Equinox EV and Cadillac Optiq models near you.
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In the Electrek Podcast, we discuss the most popular news in the world of sustainable transport and energy. In this week’s episode, we discuss Tesla’s earnings madness, Rivian layoffs, Ford pausing F-150 Lightning, and more.
The show is live every Friday at 4 p.m. ET on Electrek’s YouTube channel.
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 at around 5 p.m. ET, the video will be archived on YouTube and the audio on all your favorite podcast apps:
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Here’s the live stream for today’s episode starting at 4:00 p.m. ET (or the video after 5 p.m. ET:
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