September 14, 2024 – In a surprising revelation, American electric vehicle upstart Rivian has procured the Xiaomi SU7 for benchmarking purposes, as reported by automotive outlet insideevs on September 12th. The publication hailed the SU7 as the ‘Chinese Apple Car’ in its headline, highlighting the vehicle’s significance.
The confirmation came from Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe during the 12th Annual Laguna Conference hosted by Morgan Stanley. In response to a query from analyst Adam Jonas, Scaringe admitted that the company had indeed acquired an SU7 for competitive analysis.
Scaringe elaborated on the intense competition within the Chinese automotive industry, where traditional manufacturers and new players are constantly battling for market share. He specifically mentioned Chinese automakers like BYD, whose models have impressed with their cost-effectiveness and overall corporate strategy. As a result, Chinese vehicles are frequently dismantled for a detailed examination of their internal workings.
While Scaringe confirmed the purchase of the SU7, he didn’t specifically discuss the vehicle during the interview. Instead, he emphasized cost reduction as a crucial focus for Rivian. According to him, Chinese cars have been subjected to numerous teardowns, and their internal components have been scrutinized extensively.
In many instances, there are no magical, proprietary secrets to be found. Upon disassembly, one doesn’t exclaim, “Oh, this is beyond my expectations.” However, the cost advantages are evident in every nut, bolt, wire, and panel of the vehicle. Each individual component is 20% to 30% cheaper, and sometimes even 40% cheaper, than similar parts or components sourced from Western markets.
