Beijing Auto Show: Xiaomi SU7 Gen2 raises the EV bar again

The Beijing Auto Show once again served as a showcase for how aggressively Chinese automakers are advancing electric vehicle technology. Electrek's Fred Lambert returned from the event with a clear verdict: China has not just kept pace with the rest of the world — it has pulled ahead on multiple fronts, from software integration to driving dynamics and pricing.

The second-generation Xiaomi SU7 was among the standout models at the show. After a test drive, Lambert noted that the vehicle raises the bar not just within its price segment but across the broader EV market. Its combination of range, onboard technology, and driver assistance features puts serious pressure on established Western manufacturers.

BYD, meanwhile, used the occasion to share updates on a fresh home battery pilot program — a move that signals the company's ambition to expand beyond vehicles and into integrated home energy management. The concept of using EVs and stationary storage together as a household energy system is gaining traction rapidly in China.

For international markets, these developments carry real implications. European consumers and policymakers are watching closely as Chinese EVs inch closer to mainstream availability in the EU, with ongoing trade discussions around import tariffs shaping how — and at what price — these vehicles will reach Western driveways.