Xiaomi didn’t start out making cars, it started out selling phones. Yet the company turned its car business profitable in just two years. Tesla needed a full decade to hit that same milestone.
Now Xiaomi has a new move: a separate EV brand called Sky Nomad, built for people who want a vehicle that fits outdoor trips and family life. The most interesting part is what’s coming first. Reports point to a vehicle with a roof that retracts and pops up into an actual camping tent.
So, what does the Sky Nomad actually offer?
The first vehicle in the lineup goes by the codename N90. Rumors point to a full-size electric SUV with three rows of seating, so it can fit larger families. Reports suggest it stretches past 5,300 mm in length and may ride on a 3,100 mm wheelbase, numbers that put it firmly in the large family SUV class.
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Xiaomi hasn’t said anything official about the battery yet, but word is the SUV will run as an extended-range EV. That means an 80-kWh CATL battery working alongside a 1.5-liter gas engine that kicks in to extend your range. Together, they could push total range past 1,500 kilometers on China’s CLTC test cycle. On battery power alone, expect around 300 miles before the gas engine needs to step in.
The rumored SUV’s biggest party trick is its roof. A section of it can lift up and retract, opening the rear of the vehicle into a two-level space. Basically, it turns the back of your SUV into a mini loft where you can set up camp without leaving your car.
Does this idea hold up as an actual product?
Absolutely, and the reasoning makes sense once you look at the market. EREVs are having a moment in China right now because they fix the two biggest problems with EVs: charging infrastructure and range anxiety. You get lower running costs and that smooth EV feel for daily driving, plus a gas engine backup that gives you hybrid-level range and peace of mind on longer trips.
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This SUV is expected to launch as the Xiaomi YU9 in late July, with sales starting in August. Xiaomi has already prepped over 10,000 units for immediate delivery, a sign the company expects strong demand right out of the gate.
My take: this isn’t a concept car or a side project. It’s a real product aimed at a specific type of buyer, and it marks a shift for Xiaomi. The company is moving away from mass-market city EVs and pushing into the family and lifestyle SUV space, which happens to be the fastest-growing vehicle segment in China right now.
