Xiaomi kicked off sales of its electric car on Thursday, with the Chinese smartphone company pricing its SU7 at 215,900 to 299,900 yuan as it enters a fiercely competitive domestic market.

CEO Lei Jun told the launch event that the shift from electronics to car manufacturing had not been easy, noting that US rival Apple had given up on such an idea.

"In the three years of developing this car, my biggest realisation is that making cars is extremely difficult. Even a giant like Apple gave up on it," Lei said to a packed audience at the event in Beijing, which included high-profile Chinese auto executives, including the leaders of Chinese EV makers Xpeng, Nio and Li Auto.

"So today, every person who is still persevering in making cars is a hero of our time,” said Lei.

The company's standard SU7 EV model will be priced at 215,900 yuan, while the Pro and Max versions will cost 245,900 yuan and 299,900 yuan respectively, Lei said. Deliveries for the Standard and Max models will commence from late April, and the Pro models will follow by the end of May.

All SU7 models will only be sold for now in China, the world's biggest auto market.

Comparing Xiaomi's SU7 to Tesla and Porsche EV models, Lei highlighted its advantages, including its minimum range of 700km which surpasses the Tesla Model 3's 567km.

The launch fulfils an ambition of Xiaomi founder Lei, who announced the company's foray into EVs in 2021, pledging to invest US$10 billion in its auto business which would be "the last major entrepreneurship project" of his life.

The company formed a manufacturing partnership with state-owned automaker BAIC Group and showcased the SU7 – short for Speed Ultra 7 – sedan, in December.

Analysts have been split on whether Xiaomi's car project will succeed. Some say it is a natural extension for the company, whose rice cookers, air purifiers and other electronics are ubiquitous in Chinese homes.

In China's digitally oriented car market, "there are no better companies at knowing how to monetise screens than mobile device companies", said Bill Russo, CEO of Shanghai-based advisory firm Automobility.

But, in a departure from the company's image as an affordable brand, the Xiaomi's SU7 sedan price tag means that it is entering a crowded, more premium segment, competing with more established EV makers like Tesla and Geely's Zeekr for market share amid a brutal price war.

For instance, Tesla's Model 3 has a starting price of 245,900 yuan, while Zeekr's 001 and 007 models have starting prices of 269,000 yuan and 209,900 yuan respectively.

"Can (Chinese consumers) take that leap psychologically from mass-market, cool, inexpensive consumer products and home products to premium EV?" said Tu Le, founder of consultancy Sino Auto Insights. (Reuters)