Ferrari Reportedly Buys Xiaomi SU7 Ultra to Benchmark for Future Electric Supercar
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Ferrari Reportedly Buys Xiaomi SU7 Ultra to Benchmark for Future Electric Supercar
In a twist few could have predicted a decade ago, Ferrari may be turning to Chinese tech giant Xiaomi for insight into the future of high-performance electric vehicles.
Reports originating from China and supported by widely circulated photos on Weibo appear to show a Xiaomi SU7 Ultra — the automaker’s flagship EV — exiting Ferrari’s Maranello factory gates. The car, finished in Xiaomi’s signature launch spec, was allegedly brought in for benchmarking purposes as Ferrari advances its own EV development program.
Benchmarking is a common practice among automakers, involving the teardown and rigorous analysis of rival models to evaluate everything from performance metrics to materials quality and assembly processes. In this case, the move would represent a rare moment in which the traditional West turns to the rising East for performance cues — and from a smartphone brand, no less.
The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra has drawn considerable attention since its 2024 launch, boasting jaw-dropping figures including 1,548 horsepower, sub-two-second 0–60 mph acceleration, and a top speed exceeding 200 mph. With a starting price undercutting Tesla’s Model S Plaid and Porsche’s Taycan Turbo GT, the SU7 Ultra sold out rapidly, reportedly racking up 50,000 orders within days of its debut.
Further fueling speculation, Chinese blogger 西米露在博洛尼亚 (“Sago Dessert in Bologna”) claims Ferrari personnel visited Xiaomi’s Beijing headquarters in 2023 to explore possible collaboration on next-gen EV propulsion systems. A second blogger, 苏黎世贝勒爷, echoed the claim, suggesting that Ferrari is taking the SU7 seriously as a benchmark for performance, tech integration, and manufacturing cost efficiency.
While Ferrari has remained silent on the reports, the implications are significant. If true, it suggests that even the most prestigious names in the supercar world are no longer ignoring the rapid advancements coming from China’s top-tier EV players.
Ferrari’s first fully electric model is expected to debut in 2025. Whether it draws direct inspiration from the SU7 Ultra remains to be seen — but the message is clear: the electric performance race now runs through Maranello and Beijing alike.