Xiaomi robotic charger technology is turning one of Tesla’s old showcase ideas into a real product. TechRadar and InsideEVs both report that Xiaomi has unveiled an automated EV charging arm designed for SU7 and YU7 owners in China.
Tesla showed a snake-like robotic charger prototype about a decade ago, but the system never reached production. Xiaomi’s version is more garage-friendly: it folds out of a slim enclosure that InsideEVs says is less than six inches, or 152 mm, wide.
Xiaomi robotic charger uses AI vision
The Xiaomi robotic charger can start a charging session after the vehicle is parked, plug itself into the car, and unplug automatically once the battery reaches the chosen charge level. Owners can also trigger charging from a smartphone if the car is parked within reach of the telescopic arm.
Xiaomi says the system uses AI vision recognition for sub-millimeter precision when aligning the connector. It can also communicate with the vehicle to open and close the motorized charge-port door, removing the need for the driver to handle a heavy cable.
The biggest missing details are price and power. Xiaomi has not said whether the enclosure includes the charger itself or works as an add-on to an installed wall charger. The company already sells home chargers rated between 7 kW and 11 kW, so the final product could fit within that power range.
InsideEVs says the robot is expected to reach stores in China in the fourth quarter of 2026, while TechRadar notes Xiaomi’s promotional video looked close to production-ready. Hyundai, Star Charge, Aito, and Li Auto have also explored similar robotic charging concepts, showing that automated EV charging is becoming more than a lab demo.
You can follow more developments in Technowatt’s EVs & Transportation coverage.