Xiaomi has gone from building smartphones to setting records at one of the world's toughest racing circuits. At Germany's legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife, the company's all-electric YU7 GT performance SUV recently established two remarkable milestones. First, the 990-horsepower electric SUV recorded an impressive 7:22.755 lap, surpassing the previous production SUV benchmark held by the Audi RS Q8. Then Xiaomi pushed the technology even further by sending the vehicle around the famous circuit without anyone behind the wheel.

Powered by an advanced 897-volt silicon-carbide electrical system, the YU7 GT completed the entire 12.94-mile (20.8-km) Nordschleife completely autonomously. Using an AI-driven end-to-end control system, the SUV successfully negotiated all 73 corners and more than 1,000 feet (305 meters) of elevation change without human input. During the official autonomous run, its speed was electronically limited to 130 mph (210 km/h), and it crossed the finish line in 10:29.483, establishing the Nürburgring's first officially recognized driverless lap record.

In China, the dual-motor performance SUV starts at 389,900 yuan ($57,300 / €53,300). Beyond its striking supercar-inspired design and a 0–60 mph sprint in under three seconds, Xiaomi says its AI platform continuously analyzes grip levels, tire behavior, and chassis dynamics in real time to maximize both speed and stability. The achievement highlights how a company once known almost exclusively for consumer electronics is now challenging some of the biggest names in high-performance automotive engineering.

Would you trust an autonomous 990-horsepower SUV to drive you around the Nürburgring at 130 mph (210 km/h) without anyone behind the wheel?