A YU7 Max was caught on video with its brakes smoking, but Xiaomi insists it’s not a problem since they kept working as intended
Xiaomi’s on a hot streak lately—figuratively and literally. While the brand is still riding high from the SU7’s impressive Nürburgring performance and a staggering 289,000 pre-orders for the upcoming YU7 SUV, a fiery hiccup has sparked a round of PR firefighting.
During a recent media track test, a YU7 Max’s brakes were seen catching fire in a pit lane video. The high-performance SUV, boasting 682 horsepower (691 kW) and 639 lb-ft (866 Nm) of torque from its dual-motor setup, naturally demands strong stopping power. But seeing flames on a brake caliper—especially with technicians casually checking a red-hot 619°C (1,146°F) reading—was enough to raise some eyebrows.
Xiaomi responded by saying the blaze was caused by organic compounds in the low-metallic brake pads, not a malfunction, and that it’s “totally normal” at those temperatures. Importantly, the brakes continued to function as expected.
The company also pointed out that the test car wasn’t making full use of its regenerative braking system. In “Master Mode” with “Enhanced Energy Recovery,” the YU7 Max can apply up to 0.2G of braking force through regen alone, reducing strain on the friction brakes. But without that system activated—and with the SUV tipping the scales at 2.3 tons—it’s no surprise the pads reached their limit.
This incident appears unrelated to earlier reports of full brake failures on Xiaomi’s SU7 sedans, which were traced back to components unsuited for high-performance use. In contrast, Xiaomi claims the YU7 Max’s pads and rotors were track-ready.
