Lei Jun, chairman, and CEO of Xiaomi, revealed that the factory can produce 40 SUV cars per hour, meaning a new Xiaomi SU7 will come off the assembly line every 76 seconds. The highly automated production line and the sophisticated, clever techniques used are to blame for the rapid pace. The factory is said to be run by more than 700 robots. They perform duties like transportation, inspection, and installation.
Three hundred and eighty-one robots, four on each side of the car, work in the body shop to assist twenty employees. Robotic arms move the doors, position them, tighten hinges, and tighten bolts.
Xiaomi Revolutionizes Automotive Manufacturing with Robotic Assembly and Smart Paint System
The panoramic sunroof, as well as the front and rear windshields, are fitted with robotic arms. It takes less than 30 seconds from the time the parts are picked up to the time they are assembled onto the car body. Xiaomi says that’s twice as quick as traditional automakers. The manufacturer of the car and smartphone asserts that this approach is three times more effective than relying solely on human operators.
A smart system has been installed in the paint shop by Xiaomi. The system can quickly fill, clean, and supply paint of each color, switching from one to another, in just forty minutes, thanks to its flexible color sorting technique. This can cut the time it takes to deliver an order by 25%.
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Xiaomi’s Ambitious Automotive Venture Faces Hurdles Amidst Safety Concerns
On March 30, 2021, Xiaomi formally declared its intent to enter the automotive sector. By the time they announced it, they had a car under development. On March 28, 2024, the Xiaomi SU7 was released. In its first year on the market, the company hopes to sell 100,000 units annually; over the next three years, it plans to sell up to 900,000 units.
Xiaomi’s EV Factory is assembling one SU7 every 76 seconds!#Xiaomi #EV #PowerCorridors pic.twitter.com/rRhwBdAw9h
— POWER CORRIDORS (@power_corridors) May 3, 2024
Nevertheless, the automaker is facing challenges as orders for the SU7 continue to pour in. Social media has been overtaken by numerous videos of test vehicles colliding. Every time it seems like the same scenario plays out: the driver applies a little too much pressure on the accelerator pedal, the car loses traction, and it crashes into a curb, a pole, or another car. Before the cars reach customers, Xiaomi needs to resolve the problem.
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Xiaomi’s SU7: Overwhelming Demand and Extended Wait Time
Reportedly, 59 examples from 28 different cities in the nation showed up in showrooms. Customers were waiting to drive the car until three in the morning. To increase the SU7’s appeal, Xiaomi began sending the model to influencers for reviews.
In less than 30 minutes, the company received 50,000 requests for reservations. Ninety thousand reservations had been received in just one day. The process was straightforward: clients only needed to pay a 5,000 yuan ($691) deposit to reserve an SU7. However, the volume of requests also resulted in longer wait times, which incensed a number of customers who were unwilling to wait to request a refund.
The SU7 Pro version reserved by those who placed a waitlist should anticipate an 18–21 week wait. Awaiting periods for those who selected the top-of-the-line SU7 Max are roughly thirty weeks. Delivery from Xiaomi will begin in April.