Core Viewpoint - The Haikou City Meilan District People's Court ruled that Xiaomi's "prepayment of the balance before vehicle delivery" clause in its purchase agreement is invalid, marking a significant legal precedent for consumer rights in the automotive industry [1][3]. Group 1: Legal Judgment - The court found the clause requiring payment of the full balance within seven days without vehicle inspection to be invalid, as it imposed undue obligations on consumers and restricted their rights [3]. - The ruling emphasized that Xiaomi's promotional statements about allowing payment after vehicle inspection were misleading, violating the principle of good faith [3]. - The court also noted that Xiaomi breached the supplementary agreement regarding the order's validity period, as they demanded payment without receiving a production request from the consumer [3]. Group 2: Industry Context - The case highlights broader issues within the automotive industry, particularly the problematic "pre-sale" model, which has led to consumer complaints about payment obligations not aligning with delivery commitments [1][5]. - There is a growing trend of complaints against Xiaomi regarding the sequence of payment and delivery obligations, indicating systemic issues in their sales practices [4][5]. - The automotive industry is facing challenges such as data inflation, where refundable deposits are misrepresented as actual orders, leading to distorted industry metrics [5][6]. Group 3: Consumer Rights and Industry Practices - The traditional practice in the automotive sector involves paying a deposit and settling the balance upon vehicle delivery, which protects consumer interests [5]. - The court's decision reinforces the notion that companies cannot shift all risks to consumers through contractual clauses, advocating for fair transaction principles [6]. - The industry must balance growth with the ability to fulfill commitments, focusing on service quality to ensure long-term success [6].

齐鲁晚报·齐鲁壹点 张雪 近期，关于小米SU7 Ultra准车主被要求提前支付尾款的事件持续发酵，引发广泛关注。社交平台上，越来越多的SU7 Ultra准车主晒出相似遭遇：车辆尚 未排产，交付专员的通知已提前抵达——7天内支付全部尾款，否则订单取消且定金不退。 "其他车商都是看见车再打款，到我这却是不给钱不生产，这太伤我们真心想买的客户心了。"据消费者陈女士的描述，若不支付部分尾款，即使明确表示 会要车，也会被延迟排产。这种现象从去年底开始零星出现，如今已演变为系统性争议。 当记者以消费者身份咨询小米汽车客服时，对方确认存在"车辆下线后通知支付尾款"流程，但对"车未下线即催款"的情况未予否认，仅表示"以交付专员 通知为准"。 有车主在微博上吐槽："订单显示还需等待22周，催款通知却已下达。超过期限未支付，系统自动标记违约，5000元定金直接没收"。更极端的情况是，车 辆尚未进入生产序列，用户已被要求全款到位。无独有偶，多名准车主反映，在未看到实车甚至车辆尚未排产的情况下，小米汽车要求其在7日内支付尾 款，否则订单将被暂缓生产甚至取消，定金不予退还。 对于用户最关心的 "提前付款后如遇质量问题如何处理"，客服回 ...