By the end of this year, Xiaomi will introduce a large crossover with a plug-in hybrid system. For this new model, the company has decided to launch a new sub-brand called Sky Nomad, which translates to "heavenly nomad" in Russian.
Chinese automakers love creating new brands, and Xiaomi, which burst onto the auto market in the spring of 2024, is no exception. After the successful launch of two electric models under the parent Xiaomi brand, company founder Lei Jun decided that a new brand was needed for the third model. This brand will likely be Sky Nomad.
We say "likely" because Xiaomi does not directly specify which product the Sky Nomad brand is intended for, but since its announcement was posted on the page of Xiaomi's automotive division on the Chinese social network Weibo, it is clear that it refers to a car, not a new tablet or, say, a vacuum cleaner. Chinese media unanimously claim that a large plug-in hybrid crossover from Xiaomi will be released under the Sky Nomad brand. However, no one yet knows whether the Xiaomi name will be retained in its title or whether Sky Nomad will be a completely independent brand.
It was previously assumed that the large crossover would be called the Xiaomi YU9; its camouflaged prototypes were spotted on the roads as early as last year, and our artist Nikita Chuiko recently rendered images of the upcoming new model. At present, it is known that this crossover will have a short five-seat and a long seven-seat version, with the overall length of the seven-seat version exceeding 5.3 meters. A camper version with a pop-up roof is also planned for travel and outdoor enthusiasts.
The powertrain, according to preliminary data, will be a series plug-in hybrid, meaning the gasoline engine located under the front hood is not mechanically connected to the wheels, operates as a generator, and charges the traction battery, which will have a capacity of about 70 kWh. The range on a single charge without using the internal combustion engine will be around 400-500 km under the CLTC cycle, and in hybrid mode, over 1500 km.
Xiaomi's hybrid crossover will face fierce competition in the domestic market, but we are nevertheless confident that it will sell well — Xiaomi has a very loyal audience. In 2025, Xiaomi sold 411,837 cars in China, with a plan for 2026 of 550,000 cars, and the company is currently not meeting this target despite continued sales growth. In the first half of this year, according to data from CnEVPost, Xiaomi sold 185,055 vehicles (+17.2% compared to the same period last year). The debut of the large crossover should help Xiaomi achieve its sales goal. In 2027, Xiaomi cars will officially enter foreign markets, with Europe being a priority among them.
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