Xiaomi’s third car model, the YU9 SUV, was spotted undergoing challenging road tests in China’s Xinjiang region. The company is testing the vehicle’s durability and performance in the harsh conditions of the Pamir Plateau. Xiaomi’s senior executives confirmed in a statement that high-altitude testing is ongoing.

Xiaomi YU9 spotted

CEO Lei Jun announced on Chinese social media platform Weibo that the test team had reached the Panlong Ancient Road. This approximately 30-kilometer mountain road has over 600 sharp bends and is located at an altitude of over 3,500 meters.

Lei Jun described the route as “a challenging yet fascinating route.” During the high-altitude testing phase, more than twenty Xiaomi engineers are thoroughly evaluating the vehicle’s durability and charging performance.

The technical details of the Xiaomi YU9 are not yet clear. However, reports from local media suggest that the vehicle may feature an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) system. Some sources claim that the YU9, with its 80 kWh battery capacity, will offer a pure electric range of over 400 kilometers. The vehicle’s total range is currently unknown.

Given the YU9’s dimensions, it is expected to be positioned in the D segment, with a length of over 5.2 meters and a height of around 1.8 meters. The vehicle is expected to feature a LiDAR sensor.

However, during testing, some prototypes were found to be missing this hardware, suggesting the company is testing different hardware levels. These ongoing tests in Xinjiang indicate that Xiaomi’s third model is in the final stages of development. The model is expected to be unveiled in 2026.