Xiaomi unleashes full power of SU7 Ultra after customer backlash

The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra, the tech giant's high-performance electric sedan, is now delivering its originally advertised power after the latest software update. Following its launch, some owners of the flagship EV discovered that a software setting limited the car's output to 900 horsepower despite the vehicle's capability to produce significantly more. This sparked immediate disappointment among buyers who had paid for the top-tier performance.

The SU7 Ultra had already made a strong impression in the automotive world. A test version of the car impressively outperformed the Tesla Model S Plaid. A pre-production SU7 Ultra prototype achieved a remarkable lap time of 6 minutes and 46.874 seconds at the challenging Nürburgring circuit. This result puts the 1,500+ horsepower Xiaomi ahead of supercars like the Rimac Nevera, Corvette ZR1, Viper ACR, and Porsche 918.

Given these impressive feats, the revelation that the commercially available SU7 Ultra was restricted by nearly 650 horsepower through software came as a significant letdown to early adopters. The online backlash from SU7 Ultra owners was swift and vocal. In response to this pressure, Xiaomi decided to remove the performance-limiting software. In a public statement, the company acknowledged its misstep, stating, "We appreciate the passionate feedback from our community and will ensure better transparency moving forward."

Xiaomi's U-turn means that SU7 Ultra owners can now experience the full potential of their wild EV. This situation exposes a growing challenge for automakers shifting to "software-defined vehicles." Companies might see opportunities in offering features and performance upgrades through OTA updates, but many consumers still view their cars purely as hardware.

This perspective is evident in the resistance to subscription-based features and complaints about software-locked capabilities that seem to differentiate trim levels and boost profits. The case of the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra demonstrates the delicate balance automakers must strike between software innovation and customer expectations.

Via