Xiaomi cleared to launch extended‑range SUV Kunlun N3
Get the Energy newsletter
Daily energy & climate — solar, EVs, oil, the policy fights and tech bets shaping the transition. Free.
- MIIT granted Xiaomi regulatory approval to produce extended‑range electric vehicles (EREVs), clearing a key hurdle for the company’s expansion beyond battery‑only EVs.
- Xiaomi will debut its first EREV, a full‑size SUV codenamed "Kunlun N3" over 5.3 m long, aimed at competing with Li Auto’s L9.
- Xiaomi plans to launch the Kunlun N3 under a new sub‑brand "Skynomad" in the second half of 2026, featuring a 70+ kWh battery, 400–500 km pure‑electric range, and a small ICE generator.
- Sunwoda and CALB will supply the Kunlun N3’s battery pack, providing 60 % and 40 % of the cells respectively.
- Li Auto’s L9 deliveries fell 74 % year‑over‑year in the first four months of 2026, totaling just 4,131 units.
- Aito’s M9 has cumulative deliveries exceeding 280,000 units and secured 50,000 pre‑orders before its May launch.
- Xiaomi set a 2026 delivery target of 550,000 units, up 34 % from 2025, but Jan‑May deliveries were only 150,317 units, a 13.5 % year‑over‑year increase.
Why it matters: Xiaomi’s approval unlocks a new revenue stream and could boost its 2026 delivery goal of 550,000 units, while Li Auto’s L9 faces a steep sales slump and Aito’s M9 retains strong demand, reshaping the extended‑range SUV hierarchy in China and intensifying competition for price‑sensitive family buyers.
