BRIEF: Xiaomi recalls 117,000 SU7 EVs for assisted driving software upgrade

Xiaomi Corp. (1810.HK) on Friday recalled about 117,000 of its SU7 Standard Edition electric vehicles produced before Aug. 30. The move was prompted by potential shortcomings with their highway pilot assist systems under extreme scenarios, according to a Sept. 19 notice from the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR). The company will fix the issue through an over-the-air (OTA) software upgrade.

Launched in March 2024 as Xiaomi’s first EV model, the SU7 had sold nearly 340,000 units through the end of this August. That means the recall affects roughly one-third of its total sales, according to Caixin.

Xiaomi said the OTA upgrade will enhance reliability by optimizing speed control strategies and adding a dynamic speed function. No hardware replacement is needed.

The move follows a fatal accident in March involving an SU7 in pilot assist mode that killed three occupants, sparking heightened scrutiny over assisted driving safety. Regulators, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and SAMR, have since tightened rules on assisted driving promotions and recall procedures, placing OTA upgrades under stricter oversight.

Xiaomi’s stock has slipped about 1.3% over the past two trading days.

By Lee Shih Ta

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