Xiaomi announces first SU7 recall over parking assist glitch

Xiaomi EV, the car-making division of Chinese tech giant Xiaomi, has issued its first-ever vehicle recall. The recall affects 30,931 SU7 Standard Edition electric vehicles manufactured between February 6, 2024, and November 26, 2024.

The recall has been initiated because of a software glitch that can disrupt the timing synchronization of the car's parking assist system. This, in turn, can affect the system's ability to detect static obstacles. As a result of this cascade of glitches, the risk of collisions goes up. Xiaomi EV acknowledged receiving 255 complaints related to this issue, with incidents initially reported as far back as November 14, 2024.

The company claims the problem is related to an occasional malfunction in the cloud-based service that supports the parking assist feature. Following the initial reports, Xiaomi EV implemented precautionary measures through the cloud service and introduced additional protection strategies to mitigate the risk.

To actually fix the issue, Xiaomi EV will provide a free over-the-air software upgrade to all affected vehicles. This upgrade should eliminate the safety hazard posed by the parking assist glitch. The company states that the recall and OTA upgrade follow two months of rigorous testing, validation, and communication with regulatory authorities.

This recall is a big issue for Xiaomi EV, which officially entered the automotive industry on March 30, 2021. The company launched its first electric vehicle, the SU7, on March 28, 2024. The SU7 is widely seen as a competitor to the Tesla Model 3.

The SU7 comes in three versions: Standard, Pro, and Max, with starting prices of RMB 215,900 ($29,800), RMB 245,900 ($33,950), and RMB 299,900 ($41,400), respectively. On December 31, 2024, Xiaomi founder Lei Jun announced that the company delivered over 135,000 vehicles in 2024 and aims to deliver 300,000 in 2025.

The company is also preparing for the launch of its second EV model. The YU7 SUV is expected to arrive in June or July 2025. Xiaomi's first-ever recall is a challenge, but it proves the company pays attention to safety and customer satisfaction.

Via