Model Y Juniper competitor by Xiaomi appears as a test mule SUV

Xiaomi chose to make a performance sedan as its first electric vehicle and take the lessons learned to the current most popular passenger vehicle category by releasing an electric SUV.

A Xiaomi SUV is reportedly arriving in 2025 and may become a direct Tesla Model Y competitor as the sales of Xiaomi's inaugural SU7 EV surge.

Not only that, but the Xiaomi electric SUV release may have been scheduled to coincide with the facelift of the world's most popular electric vehicle, the Tesla Model Y.

Tentatively named Model Y Juniper, the refresh was rumored to arrive in 2024, but Elon Musk recently put the kibosh on those speculations, saying that there will be no Model Y Juniper this year.

Xiaomi, however, is working hard to have a Model Y Juniper competitor whenever it launches, and its test mule may have leaked in the flesh.

Alleged spy photos of the Xiaomi SUV have appeared, and the car looks rather svelte and aerodynamic from the little that can be seen from under the test mule camo.

What sets it apart from the Model Y is not only a livelier silhouette, but also the assisted-driving LiDAR bump on the top.

The Model Y Juniper refresh will come with more streamlined exterior and interior designs, though, similar to what Tesla did with the Model 3 Highland, so the Xiaomi SUV design can't really be compared until Juniper is out, and the test mule tarp is off. 

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