Xiaomi Teases “Sky Nomad”, New Brand for Hybrid SUVs Ahead of Europe Push

Xiaomi has released a teaser on its official Weibo social media page, with an image that contains only the words “Sky Nomad”, along with their Chinese-language translation and a phonetic pronunciation guide. The name has been widely circulated in the press as a new sub-brand that the company will introduce to focus on its heavily leaked upcoming range-extender hybrid model.

Translated from its original Chinese wording, the Weibo post goes on to say “SkyNomad. The sky, the nomad. A new name about space and life, let me say hello.” No further details have been announced officially yet, either about the brand or the products expected to be launched under it. The timing of the teaser suggests that Xiaomi is gearing up for a launch within the next few weeks or months.

Xiaomi is known to be developing its first hybrid SUV, in a departure from its existing pure battery-electric models, the SU7 sedan, YU7 SUV, and their high-performance counterparts, which have soared in popularity across China since their debut. A model that has informally been referred to as “YU9” or “Kunlun” has been spotted testing under camouflage since at least the middle of 2025.

While it might be given a new name under the SkyNomad brand to differentiate it from Xiaomi’s all-electric lineup, the purported YU9 is a six- or seven-seater full-sized SUV with a range-extender hybrid powertrain. This means it would have a small combustion engine which doesn’t drive the car directly, but instead charges its battery on the go. Its total range could exceed 1,000km, which would help Xiaomi attract a whole new customer base who are still wary about EVs or unable to access infrastructure for charging.

This launch will help Xiaomi address the key three-row luxury SUV market segment in China, and will also be important as the company prepares for its Europe launch in 2027, the first time its cars will be available outside their home country. Although a hybrid would also be interesting for the India market, a launch here anytime soon is unlikely.