The highly anticipated launch of Xiaomi’s electric vehicles in Pakistan has been delayed indefinitely.
In a corporate briefing session, Airlink Communication (AIRLINK), which holds the franchise for Xiaomi smartphones and plans to introduce its EV lineup, provided an official reason for the delay. Management stated that “unexpectedly high demand in China” has forced Xiaomi to prioritize the production of left-hand drive vehicles for its domestic market.
As a result, Airlink management said they do not anticipate the launch of Xiaomi cars in Pakistan “in the near term.”
This news comes as a significant setback to local EV enthusiasts, especially since Xiaomi’s ambitions for the Pakistani market have been clear for some time. In September of last year, units of the flagship Xiaomi SU7 were spotted in Karachi, a move that Airlink later confirmed was an import of test units.
The official reason cited is “high demand,” which comes at a time when the SU7 is experiencing a turbulent period in its home market, marked by a massive recall and multiple fire-related incidents.
Last week, Xiaomi SU7 was involved in a high-speed fatal crash in Chengdu, China, where the vehicle burst into flames. This was reportedly the second such fire incident this year, following a crash in March that also resulted in fatalities and a vehicle fire, sparking public debate over the SU7’s safety.
Furthermore, these incidents follow a major recall announced just last month. In September, Chinese media reported that Xiaomi was recalling nearly 117,000 SU7 vehicles due to flaws in its driver-assistance software.
Besides this, for now, the launch of the Xiaomi SU7 in Pakistan has been delayed indefinitely, with the company prioritizing its domestic market for now. All we can do is wait for Airlink Communication to announce a new launch timeline.
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