Alright, Lei Jun just hosted an interesting live session about the new SU7, and honestly, there are some things worth paying attention to. First of all, the pricing topic: the Standard and Pro versions are up by 14,000 yuan compared to the previous generation, and the Max by 10,000. I understand the online debate has exploded, but after listening to the explanations, it's hard not to agree with them.

The point is that the upgrades are truly massive. The entire lineup switches to the 800V silicon carbide platform, LiDAR is standard everywhere, and the assisted driving hardware is fully equipped. It's as if traditional cars are upgraded all three main components at once. Just this alone would already be worth tens of thousands of yuan.

But there's more: automotive-grade memory prices are rising every quarter. Last quarter saw a +40-50% increase, and it's said that the first quarter will rise again, with some sources mentioning +70%. This alone costs the company tens of thousands more this year. Add the raw material price increases, and the cost pressure becomes serious.

I've seen comments saying "Relax, the official price will drop by 10-20k" or "Xiaomi will add value without raising the price." Lei Jun was clear: that's not possible. With current costs and all these upgrades, the "more value, same price" policy no longer holds.

Regarding aesthetics: many think the design has remained the same, so it's not a true new generation. But Lei Jun has a point: the real change is internal. The chassis, the electric motor, the electronic architecture—all redesigned. The interiors are completely rethought.

On the exterior, designer Li Tianyuan explained that something has actually changed: the front black area has been modified in detail because it now features the standard mmWave 4D radar. It's square-shaped and positioned in the center of the grille. They had to adapt the design, but chose to keep the original style for two reasons: first, the SU7's design withstands the test of time (as confirmed by internal research and feedback), second, they want to respect those who already bought the car. If a visually different version comes out immediately after, it’s not pleasant. It also affects residual value—the SU7 maintains the top spot in value retention.

Lei Jun emphasized that choosing to "not change" requires courage and confidence. Two years after launch, the design continues to surprise, so they decided to keep it largely unchanged.

On the topic of black interiors: some find them a bit outdated. Lei Jun says the opposite. After extensive research, they found that many prefer black. To avoid it feeling too dark, they used contrasting gray stitching and quilted workmanship. It conveys "sophistication but also vibrancy," making it very modern. And of course, besides black, there are other colors.

Regarding the strategy of announcing the restyling three months in advance: Lei Jun believes that buying a car is an important decision, not an impulse purchase. He wants to give everyone time to test, reflect, and choose calmly. Since the SU7 is already a bestseller and this is the first restyling, they were especially careful and cautious.

There was also a discussion about some recent controversies with online creators. Lei Jun clarified: Xiaomi accepts criticism; it’s part of normalcy in 16 years of history. The problem this time was different—the creator attacked, defamed, and even cursed Xiaomi users. As a company, they cannot tolerate that. The red line is always defending customers. Those who slander users cannot collaborate with them.

On another issue: some say Xiaomi contradicts itself because Lei Jun said years ago that they wouldn’t do advertising. Xu Jieyun responded that it was over ten years ago, when Xiaomi was just starting and relied on engineers in the community. Now, the scale is completely different; they’ve learned from others and built a modern marketing system. Always consider the historical context.

On the topic of available and nearly new cars: Lei Jun explained that each car has 9 colors, 4 interiors, and many options. Combining everything, the number of SKUs might reach tens of thousands. Xiaomi Auto uses made-to-order production: they only produce after the customer orders. But sometimes, someone changes their mind, even with a 5,000 yuan deposit. What to do with the already built car?

Usually, they check among pending orders if there’s another user with the same configuration. That’s why sometimes someone complains that those who ordered later receive the car first—not favoritism, but simply because someone ahead canceled, and the configuration matches.

The problem is that with so many combinations, very strange configurations sometimes emerge. Someone chooses all optional features on a 300,000 yuan car but wants 19-inch wheels. If they cancel, it’s almost impossible to find another buyer with the same setup. Made-to-order production is very different from ready-to-ship sales—if a customized car is abandoned, the loss is high. That’s why in December, they centrally managed these unsold customized cars.

Last topic: is Lei Jun really a "marketing master"? He says the label comes from a 2013-14 entertainment show where he and Liu Qiangdong led two teams. Liu’s team privately said: "Never compete with Lei Jun in marketing; he sells hundreds of thousands of phones." The phrase was exaggerated. But how could all the success be just his merit if the company sells so much? It was an entertainment show, all exaggerated for entertainment.

Lei Jun emphasized that "marketing master" might sound like a compliment, but the term has been deliberately defamed. Some try to make people believe that product success is solely due to marketing, confusing public opinion. But the SU7 has become a bestseller—could it have been possible only thanks to marketing? He also admitted that online attacks are a powerful weapon, but he’s confident that by clarifying everything, everyone can judge objectively.

One last curious detail: Xu Jieyun confirmed there have been at least 16 officially recorded meetings—not just 15 as some say. But the misunderstanding is that it seems they only had 15 meetings over a cup. In reality, many products are discussed together, and the cup was just one of the topics. Why so many meetings? The final version includes two colors achieved with spray masking, including the transition line on the side. The logo is applied by hand after masking. Just to ensure the feeling is refined and three-dimensional. Dozens of refinements to bring quality and materials to the highest possible level. If you have this cup, you can try it and confirm whether the feeling is truly different.