Chinese smartphone and appliance maker Xiaomi launched its second model and orders started pouring in. The firm received 289,000 orders in one hour

Chinese EV and smartphone maker Xiaomi on Thursday priced its new electric YU7 SUV from 253,500 yuan ($35,364), almost 4% below Tesla's Model Y, stepping up the challenge to the U.S. firm in the world's largest auto market.

Xiaomi has started sales of its second electric car model, the YU7. This also reveals the pricing: The Xiaomi YU7 is available in China from 253,500 yuan,