Lei Jun: New-generation Xiaomi SU7 Comes with Built-in ETC Across All Models, Activation Free

Overview

It has been reported that Lei Jun (雷军), founder and CEO of Xiaomi (小米), announced the new-generation SU7 will include built-in ETC (electronic toll collection) across all trim levels, and activation will be free. Xiaomi Auto (小米汽车) has opened small pre-orders with a price band of ¥229,900–¥309,900 (roughly $32k–$43k), and the company says the model will be officially unveiled tomorrow. Why does this matter? For Chinese drivers, factory-fitted ETC removes an extra installation step and simplifies highway tolling across the country.

Tech and connectivity upgrades

Xiaomi says the SU7 now ships standard with lidar, 700 TOPS of assisted-driving compute, 4D millimeter-wave radar and an end-to-end Xiaomi HAD assisted-driving stack—an evident step up in ADAS capability compared with the outgoing model. The car also debuts an upgraded electronic/electrical architecture with advanced communications: dual-5G dual-SIM simultaneous connectivity, UWB short‑range control, onboard Wi‑Fi 7 and IoT interfaces, it has been reported. These additions signal Xiaomi’s push to fold smartphone-style connectivity and IoT into automotive products.

Significance and context

Built-in ETC is a small feature with outsized practical impact in China, where toll roads and digital vehicle services are ubiquitous. It also illustrates Xiaomi’s broader strategy of leveraging its consumer‑electronics ecosystem to make the car feel like a rolling smart device. While not directly implicated by current Western sanctions, such deep connectivity and telematics could draw scrutiny in export markets with tighter data, privacy or security rules — a recurring geopolitical theme as Chinese EV makers expand abroad.