Xiaomi Auto (小米汽车) says teardown livestream used a production SU7 Pro; car will be reassembled for internal use

Company: teardown, reassembly and purpose

Xiaomi Auto (小米汽车) has clarified details around a recent livestream in which engineers dismantled a new‑generation SU7 Pro production vehicle. Xiaomi said the car used in the broadcast was a mass‑production SU7 Pro and that, after the live teardown, the vehicle will be reassembled and reserved for display and internal testing rather than returned to sale. Why take a production car apart on camera? Xiaomi framed the move as a transparency effort to show manufacturing quality and component design to prospective buyers.

Battery safety and engineering claims

Responding to questions about a perceived conflict between an inverted pouch‑cell layout and a so‑called "bullet‑proof" bottom coating (防弹涂层), Xiaomi explained the two features are complementary rather than contradictory. It has been reported that the inverted pouch cells use downward‑facing pressure‑relief vents and dedicated exhaust channels so that, in a thermal‑runaway scenario, high‑temperature gases would be directed downward and expelled out of the car. Xiaomi also cited dual large-area liquid cooling plates and high‑temperature aerogel insulation to limit heat spread, while the bottom coating provides scratch, impact and puncture resistance as a structural safety barrier. The company said it will publish a full reassembly video and follow‑up manufacturing detail footage.

Market reception and context

Xiaomi also pointed to third‑party recognition: J.D. Power ranked the first‑generation SU7 top of its "large BEV" segment in its 2026 NEV‑IQS results, and the YU7 was ranked first in the "large BEV SUV" segment; both models also led their segments in J.D. Power's NEV‑APEAL rankings. It has been reported that since the new SU7 launched on March 19 the model has locked over 40,000 orders and delivered more than 7,000 units.

Why it matters

For Western readers, Xiaomi’s quick move from smartphones to electric vehicles is a reminder that Chinese consumer electronics groups are aggressively expanding into carmaking — and they are doing so amid growing global scrutiny over supply chains, semiconductor controls and safety standards. Teardown livestreams serve a marketing and trust function in China’s hypercompetitive EV market. But do they answer the tougher questions about long‑term reliability and international regulatory acceptance? Xiaomi will need more than demonstrations to persuade skeptical overseas regulators and buyers.