The Xiaomi YU7 has become a victim of its success, with delivery times now stretching up to 60 weeks for the standard version and 33 weeks for other variants, according to recent reports. This extended wait period has prompted some customers to consider cancelling their orders, creating an opportunity that rival automakers are eagerly exploiting.

Several competing electric vehicle manufacturers, including Zeekr, Nio, and IM Motors, have launched campaigns specifically targeting Xiaomi customers who are reconsidering their purchases due to the long wait times. These companies are offering to fully reimburse the 5,000 yuan (700 USD) deposit that customers would otherwise forfeit when cancelling their Xiaomi orders.

Screenshots circulating online show Zeekr sales representatives assuring potential customers that they “don’t need to worry about losing the deposit” and even offering guidance on how to cancel Xiaomi orders. Similarly, Nio sales representatives have been spotted in comment sections of social media posts, suggesting that Xiaomi deposits can be directly applied toward Nio purchases.

This competitive tactic isn’t entirely new. Reports indicate that similar strategies emerged as early as April when the Xiaomi SU7 was first released. At that time, Avatr reportedly displayed in-store posters with slogans suggesting they would “cover” for customers who cancelled their Xiaomi orders.

In response to these challenges and growing customer frustration, Xiaomi Chairman Lei Jun announced a limited-time configuration change option for YU7 customers. From July 6th at 10:00 AM to July 7th at midnight, customers who have placed orders (excluding those eligible for immediate delivery) can modify their vehicle configuration or switch between the Standard, Pro, and Max versions of the YU7. Lei Jun noted that successful configuration changes will result in adjusted production schedules and updated delivery estimates.

This isn’t the first time Xiaomi has accommodated customer requests for configuration changes. Lei Jun previously explained that while orders typically cannot be modified after confirmation, the company decided to allow changes after receiving numerous requests from customers who felt they had rushed their initial selections.

As Xiaomi continues to navigate what Lei Jun calls a “sweet dilemma” of balancing overwhelming demand with production capacity, the company has stated that delivery timeframes will be dynamically updated as production capacity increases.

Source: Chedongxi