Key Takeaways:
Xiaomi Auto's fifth consecutive month above 30,000 deliveries masks a widening gap to its 550,000-unit annual target.
Xiaomi Auto held August deliveries above 30,000 for a fifth straight month, but the pace still requires about 75,900 units monthly through December to meet its 550,000 target, making the Sky Nomad EREV launch decisive.
"The group is making preparations in full force for the market launch and delivery of SkyNomad," Xiaomi said in a statement Tuesday, without disclosing an exact August figure or model breakdown.
Xiaomi Auto delivered 31,267 vehicles in July, up 2.68 percent from a year earlier but down 9.99 percent from June, according to China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) data. The company delivered 36,396 vehicles in August 2025. First-seven-month deliveries totaled 216,322 units, up 14.83 percent year-on-year.
Using 30,000 as the lower-bound estimate for August, first-eight-month deliveries reached about 246,322 units, equivalent to 44.8 percent of the annual target. Closing the gap requires roughly 2.4 times July's actual volume in each of the final four months — a stretch that hinges on the Sky Nomad series, Xiaomi's first extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) line.
Xiaomi formally unveiled the Sky Nomad series on July 30, marking its entry into the EREV segment. The flagship 7-seat N90 Max SUV and the 5-seat N70 Max are both scheduled to launch in September, with Pro and standard versions of both models to follow.
The timing carries risk. Retail sales of EREVs in China fell 15.35 percent year-on-year to 535,000 units in the first seven months, according to CPCA data. The segment's contraction comes as BYD and other domestic automakers intensify price competition across the broader new-energy vehicle market. BYD, which dominates the EREV segment with its DM-i hybrid lineup, has repeatedly cut prices this year to defend market share.
The broader market is crowded. Roughly 700 new energy models are currently on sale in China, but only 56 achieve monthly sales above 5,000 units — a product success rate of just 8 percent, according to incomplete industry statistics cited by Wang Shengli, general manager of FAW-Volkswagen Sales Co., at a recent media briefing.
Xiaomi's EV and AI business posted a loss from operations of 2.6 billion yuan ($383 million) in the second quarter, its second straight quarterly loss, according to the company's August 18 earnings release. The SU7 sedan series surpassed 500,000 cumulative deliveries in mid-August, providing a base of brand loyalty the company hopes to extend to the Sky Nomad line. Founder Lei Jun recently reported that more than 2,600 owners have already clocked 100,000 kilometers under the company's "100,000 Kilometer Promise" initiative.
The delivery math is unforgiving. Even with August's lower-bound figure, Xiaomi Auto has delivered only 44.8 percent of its 550,000-unit annual target through eight months. The company would need to average about 75,900 deliveries per month from September through December — roughly 2.4 times its actual July volume of 31,267 units.
The pace of Sky Nomad's launch and delivery ramp-up will determine whether Xiaomi Auto can significantly narrow the gap in the final four months. The company is also preparing for international expansion, having launched a global website and social channels in late August ahead of a planned 2027 entry into the European market.
Xiaomi continues to invest in its technology stack. The company unveiled a 3-nanometer Xring D100 smart-driving chip in late August, with commercial use planned for 2027. In a separate development, Xiaomi was among several automakers — including Tesla and Leapmotor — affected by China's largest auto recall in August over a door escape risk.
Xiaomi shares on the Hong Kong exchange saw short selling of $730.98 million on August 31, with a short-selling ratio of 29.248 percent, according to exchange data. More detailed monthly delivery figures are expected to be released by the CPCA later this month, which will clarify whether August deliveries improved or declined from July's 31,267 units.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
