A rare sight on American roads, a Xiaomi YU7 Max EV, has been spotted with an Illinois manufacturer plate, sparking speculation about its connection to Rivian. The Chinese EV, popular in its home market, is not legally importable to the U.S., making its presence on I-5 intriguing. The plate number, 132, has previously appeared on Rivian test vehicles, adding to the theory that this Xiaomi might be a Rivian-owned test car. This sighting coincides with Rivian's upcoming launch of the R2, a $45,000 electric SUV, which is set to go head-to-head with similar models in Europe. Rivian's practice of benchmarking competitor vehicles for product development further supports the idea that this Xiaomi sighting is part of their due diligence. However, Rivian has not commented on the matter, maintaining a standard industry practice of studying vehicles globally. The Xiaomi YU7 Max, built on an 800-volt architecture, offers ultra-fast DC charging, contrasting with the R2's 400-volt platform. This difference in charging capabilities and target audience adds another layer of complexity to the potential partnership between Xiaomi and Rivian.
