Xiaomi scores first court win in SU7 Ultra hood saga
The Kaifu District People’s Court in Changsha, China, dismissed fraud and breach-of-contract claims against Xiaomi’s authorised dealer on February 12, 2026. This ruling marks the first completed trial involving the SU7 Ultra’s optional 42,000 yuan (5,810 USD) carbon-fibre hood, according to Sina.
Legal Verdict
The court rejected the plaintiff’s demand for a double refund of the 10,000 yuan (1,380 USD) deposit. The purchase agreement signed on March 5, 2025, was dissolved effective September 13, 2025, by mutual consent. Court costs of 800 yuan (110 USD) were split, with the plaintiff bearing 500 yuan (70 USD) and Xiaomi bearing 300 yuan (40 USD).
The court reasoned that marketing terms such as “high-efficiency airflow” do not factually contradict the verified function of “partial airflow discharge.” Furthermore, the court found no evidence of deliberate intent to mislead in public statements regarding internal structural modifications.
Technical Dispute
The dispute involves the SU7 Ultra’s “dual-duct” hood, marketed as replicating the prototype’s aerodynamic and cooling functions. Since May 2025, owners have noted that the production internal structure closely resembles the standard aluminium hood, with the addition of a plastic support plate. Independent tests showed negligible airflow at the vent openings when measured with blowers.
On May 8, 2025, Xiaomi described prior communications as “insufficiently clear” and clarified the function as “auxiliary front-compartment heat dissipation.” Xiaomi offered undelivered-order holders a return to the aluminium hood, subject to a 30-to-40-week wait, and granted existing owners 20,000 loyalty points valued at approximately 2,000 yuan (276 USD).
Legal Divergence
The Changsha verdict diverges from a localised October 2025 decision by the Suzhou Intermediate People’s Court, which upheld a fraud finding in a single case and ordered Xiaomi to pay 156,000 yuan (21,547 USD). Cases remain pending in Nanjing and Suzhou, where Xiaomi has submitted 84 pages of technical evidence to defend the component’s performance.
Market Positioning
The legal victory comes amid a significant downturn in SU7 Ultra demand. Monthly sales for the flagship performance sedan plummeted from a peak of over 3,000 units to just 45 units in January 2026. Despite this 98.5% volume contraction, Xiaomi EV recorded 22,100 total insurance registrations in January 2026, a 15% increase over the December average. The Changsha ruling provides a legal precedent as Xiaomi faces over 100 similar lawsuits nationwide regarding the functional specifications of its high-end accessories.
