Xiaomi's $5,800 Carbon Fiber Hood with Fake Vents Triggers Investor Concerns
By Team Dailyrevs May 12, 2025
The $5,800 carbon fiber hood on the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra offers no functional airflow or performance benefit.
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Owners are demanding refunds, accusing Xiaomi of misleading marketing — and the company’s stock price has taken a hit.
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Xiaomi issued an apology and offered loyalty points, but criticism and concern over corporate transparency continue.
Xiaomi SU7 Ultra prototype Has real vents.
What Looked Like Performance Was Just Surface
In a dramatic twist to what was supposed to be Xiaomi’s bold entrance into the electric performance segment, the flagship SU7 Ultra has become a focal point of consumer outrage — not over its range, nor its software — but over something few buyers thought to question: a $5,800 optional carbon fiber hood.
The issue? It’s entirely cosmetic.
While visually aggressive and topped with twin air ducts that suggest serious heat extraction or aero cooling, several automotive bloggers and buyers discovered that the hood’s vents are sealed. There’s no airflow. No ducting. Nothing functional. Just carbon fiber for show.
The $5,800 Illusion That Hit a Nerve — and the Market
Consumers who had shelled out thousands for this upgrade felt blindsided. The hood was not only decorative, but seemingly marketed in a way that suggested performance value, with language implying heat management or functional aerodynamics.
The response was swift and pointed — social media erupted with videos, photos, and teardown discussions. Online forums labeled it “misleading,” and within days, more than 300 owners were reportedly demanding to cancel their orders.
The situation quickly spilled into the financial markets. On May 12, Xiaomi’s stock dropped as much as 5.7% on the Hong Kong exchange, according to Bloomberg. That dip wiped hundreds of millions off Xiaomi’s market cap in a single day.
For investors, this was more than a PR blip — it signaled real reputational risk tied to Xiaomi’s fledgling automotive division.
Xiaomi Responds, But the Apology Isn’t Cooling Things Down
In response to the swelling backlash, Xiaomi Auto issued a late-night public statement:
“We are deeply sorry for the confusion caused by the marketing language regarding the carbon fiber hood. The air ducts were designed with aesthetics in mind, and we did not intend to mislead customers about their functionality.”
The company offered affected customers 20,000 yuan (~$2,750) in Xiaomi loyalty points — a gesture that landed unevenly. Some saw it as a reasonable peace offering. Others questioned why the refund wasn’t direct — or why a purely decorative piece had ever been pitched as anything else.
A Pattern That Doesn’t Fly in Automotive Circles
Fake vents and decorative performance cues are nothing new — but selling them as part of a premium upgrade package, without clarification, is where many believe Xiaomi crossed a line.
The EV world is filled with design-first buyers, but it’s also home to a savvy audience that values engineering transparency. To that group, non-functional elements can be forgiven — if disclosed. But $5,800 worth of vented carbon fiber with no ventilation? That’s a tougher sell.
This is especially damaging for Xiaomi, a brand that built its tech empire on consumer trust, perceived honesty, and value delivery. It’s not just about the hood — it’s about what the hood says about the company’s automotive ambitions.
Consumer Sentiment Hits Hard
The backlash isn’t limited to a vocal minority. The story has penetrated mainstream coverage and sparked a wider conversation about product integrity. Some SU7 Ultra buyers — and even those considering future Xiaomi EVs — have begun asking: What else might not be what it seems?
A user comment making the rounds online summarized the mood bluntly:
“If this was Apple or Tesla, it would be called innovation. But Xiaomi doesn’t have that luxury. They need to be more careful with how they sell trust.”
Timeline of Events: From Vent to Fallout
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Early May 2025 | Owners discover the carbon fiber hood vents on SU7 Ultra are decorative. |
| May 7 | Reports surface that the $5,800 option is cosmetic only. |
| May 12 | Xiaomi issues a public apology and offers loyalty points. |
| May 12 | Xiaomi shares fall 5.7% in Hong Kong following refund demands. |
| May 12 onward | Social media, forums, and investors express growing concern. |
A Test of Credibility, Not Engineering
The SU7 Ultra is still an objectively well-packaged vehicle: strong range, clean tech integration, and impressive design. But this incident has morphed into a test of Xiaomi’s credibility more than its engineering.
It’s a misstep that cuts deep — especially for a tech giant seeking to translate brand trust from smartphones to sedans.
Closing Thoughts
The carbon fiber hood saga isn’t just about form over function. It’s about expectation versus reality — and what happens when a brand misjudges that gap.
In automotive design, visual flair is celebrated, but only when it's matched by honesty. Xiaomi now finds itself in a position where every bolt and vent will be scrutinized moving forward — not because its customers expect perfection, but because they expect transparency.
The company’s apology and offer of compensation may stabilize sentiment, but it will take more than loyalty points to fully rebuild the trust that evaporated in those twin sealed vents.
2025 Xiaomi SU7 Ultra Image Gallery
Sources: Yicai Global