• Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi just unveiled its second EV, the YU7.
• Morgan Stanley analysts predicted that the electric SUV would be another threat to Tesla in China.
• Tesla's sales have struggled in China amid fierce local competition.

One of Tesla's biggest Chinese rivals just unveiled a new EV — and it could be a major headache for Elon Musk.

Smartphone maker Xiaomi showed off the YU7 at an event in Beijing on Thursday, with the electric SUV set to compete directly with Tesla's best-selling Model Y.

Xiaomi said the YU7 was a "luxury high-performance SUV," with high-tech features including intelligent door handles and a panoramic "hypervision" display below the windshield.

The company said the YU7 has a maximum speed of 253 kilometers (157 miles) an hour and can hit 100 km/h in 3.23 seconds.

It will have a maximum range of 835km (518 miles) and can add 620km (400 miles) of range in 15 minutes of charging, Xiaomi said.

Xiaomi did not say how much the YU7, its second EV, will cost. In a social media post before the unveiling, CEO Lei Jun said the SUV would go on sale in July.

The YU7 threatens to pile the pain on Tesla, which is already battling underwhelming sales in China amid brutal competition from local rivals.

Morgan Stanley analysts led by Adam Jonas and Andy Meng wrote in a note previewing the YU7's launch that the new SUV would be another challenge to Tesla.

"We find market expectations around Tesla's near-term automotive business remain too high and do not fully reflect the quantum of incremental capacity and competition coming out of China, ultimately having an impact in international markets. Understanding this will help make more sense out of Tesla's 'all-in' push into autonomy," they wrote.

The bank's analysts predicted the YU7 would replicate the sales success of Xiaomi's SU7, which notched up 120,000 pre-orders in 36 hours when it went on sale last year, saying the Model Y rival had "stunning design" combining the looks of a Ferrari or Aston Martin with the price tag of a Volkswagen.

"The YU7 is just the latest sign that Chinese tech firms are taking EV performance and cost to the next level. China may have already won the EV battle," the Morgan Stanley analysts wrote. Both the SU7 and YU7 were years ahead of comparable models offered by Ford, they added.

While both Xiaomi cars are only available in China, that may not be the case for long. Xiaomi confirmed in March that it aimed to sell EVs in overseas markets by 2027.

Morgan Stanley's analysts estimated that competition from Chinese rivals would affect Tesla's international sales.

They wrote that market expectations around Tesla's near-term automotive business remain "too high," adding that the quality of China's EV offerings justified Musk's push to pivot the company toward autonomous vehicles.

Xiaomi's EV push hasn't all been plain sailing. Its sales have reportedly dipped over the past month amid claims of misleading marketing on the high-end SU7 Ultra and concerns over a fatal crash involving an SU7 in March.

The crash, in which three people died after their SU7 hit a cement barrier shortly after disengaging from driver assist mode, sparked a regulatory crackdown on autonomous driving features in China.

• Each year, my 75-year-old Texan mother-in-law and I go on trips together — usually in the US.
• She's outlasted partygoers in Nashville, walked miles in DC museums, and had beers in Melbourne.
• These trips have transformed our relationship from in-laws to enthusiastic travel companions.

I met my wife, Cecilia, on a business trip to Austin. After dating long distance, she eventually moved to Australia to be with me and my children.

As an only child, leaving her parents behind was tough, so we made it a priority to travel back to Texas each year, usually for Christmas.

During one of our early visits, we planned a four-day trip to Seattle and invited her mother, Liz, to join us.

I wasn't entirely sure how traveling with my mother-in-law would work out, but that trip became the first of many memorable adventures.

My 75-year-old travel buddy has more stamina than most

Despite being in her 70s, Liz keeps up with us on our travels.

In Seattle, she joined every walking tour without complaint and was game for full days of exploration. She never mentioned being tired, even when the rest of us were.

Our trip to Washington, DC, further proved her stamina. Many of the area's biggest attractions are spread out, which can require a lot of walking.

This didn't deter Liz. We explored museums and historical monuments and covered miles on foot each day.

On top of that, traveling with her improved our experience by encouraging us all to take in the views and exhibits at a more thoughtful pace.

We've made so many incredible memories together in the US and outside of it

Our recent trip to Nashville was an unexpected highlight, too.

Music City has a reputation as a party destination, and I was concerned the late-night bars along Broadway would prove too much for a septuagenarian. It was quite the opposite.

After a moonshine tasting session that had us all laughing, we hit the bars, danced the night away, and had a fantastic time.

Watching Liz enthusiastically show younger revelers how to boot scoot like a Texan proved that spirit matters more than birthdate.

She outlasted many visitors half her age, and I was the one who eventually suggested heading back to the apartment!

At one point, after years of traveling to the US, Liz finally made her first trip Down Under to watch Cecilia graduate from her master's program.

Although she was worried about the long flight, she powered through and stayed in Melbourne for three weeks.

We had a wonderful time. At our local brewery, she surprised me by enjoying the beer so much that she bought a T-shirt and a six-pack to take home.

A highlight of the trip was watching her face light up at her first sip of a proper flat white after years of hearing me talk up Australian coffee.

I loved introducing my home country to Liz the way she's shown Texas to me.

These travels have strengthened family bonds across continents

What started as an uncertain invitation has become one of our favorite traditions that benefits each of us in different ways.

Liz gets to travel (something her husband typically avoids), Cecilia spends more quality time with her mom, and I see more of America.

The most rewarding part of most of these adventures, though, is getting to watch mother and daughter connect outside the usual family visits.

Plus, my children have joined us on several trips — it's been priceless creating memories across three generations and finding activities that work across age groups has been surprisingly easy.

For now, we're planning our December trip to Charleston.

I'm looking forward to trying authentic Southern food and learning about a part of America that's entirely new for me, just as Australia once was to Liz.

Turns out, traveling with your mother-in-law can be fun!

• Business Insider asked chefs for their tips for making store-bought burger buns taste better. 
• You can improve premade buns' texture by steaming or air-frying them.
• Herbed butter or mayonnaise can add flavor and moisture to buns, even if they're stale.

Toppings can elevate a burger, but so can a really good base.

Fortunately, it's possible to have a delicious burger bun even if you're not looking to make them from scratch.

Here's how chefs would find the best store-bought buns and make them even better.

Buy the freshest buns possible.

Jessica Formicola, chef and owner of Savory Experiments, told Business Insider you should always try to purchase the freshest pack of buns at the grocery store.

"Fresh buns are always better than frozen or stale buns," Formicola said. "Frozen buns will be a little drier than fresh ones because freezing reduces their moisture content."

Although frozen buns may be cheaper, your burgers will likely taste best if you opt for a fresh package. 

Always heat your buns for a better texture and smell.

Heat can easily revive and upgrade packaged buns.

"Just a little heat, such as from grilling or toasting, reactivates the gluten in the bread," Formicola told BI. "This makes the buns softer and enhances their scent."  

If you do nothing else to your burger buns, tossing them in the oven or toaster for a minute or two will help recreate that just-baked aroma and texture. 

Use a panini press to revive stale or dry burger buns.

Salvage that package of stale, dry burger buns by popping them into a panini press. 

"Any type of bread, including a burger bun, can be smashed in a panini press," Formicola told BI. "It will help the bun taste delightfully toasted and chewy."

Though it may be easiest to press an assembled burger, you can also use a panini press to toast buns by themselves. 

Try basting your buns for added moisture and flavor.

Inject flavor right into burger buns by basting them with a seasoned butter mixture. 

"I like to create fun, flavored butters and baste all my breads," Formicola said. "Using melted butter with just a 1/2 teaspoon each of garlic powder, chili powder, or cumin can totally transform a boring bun."

Use a small kitchen syringe or plastic pipette to insert the butter mixture into the buns. Be careful not to over-baste the bread, as this can make it soggy. 

Add mayonnaise to buns before grilling them.

Chef Andre Alto of Pechanga Resort Casino told BI that a touch of mayonnaise can breathe new life into store-bought burger buns. 

"Take any quality mayonnaise and spread it onto both sides of the bun. Then, on a flat-top grill, simply toast until golden brown on each side," Alto said. 

This trick is easy to customize if you mix mayo with ingredients like garlic powder, minced basil, or chili powder 

Try steaming your burger buns on the stove.

Steaming store-bought buns can make them more tender and plump up stale buns by adding moisture. 

"Hot-dog stands steam their buns because it makes them taste good. You can do the same at home in just a few minutes," Alto said. 

To make a homemade steamer, take a perforated bowl, such as a colander, and place it over a pot filled with a few inches of boiling water.

Add the buns to the bowl, cover the bowl with a lid, and steam the buns for a minute or two. 

For a crunchy bun, use an air fryer.

Chef Kevin Cabrera, executive chef of The Save Mart Companies, told BI that using an air fryer can take a burger bun from dull to decadent. 

"This method will produce that classic and crispy texture we love on a burger bun," Cabrera said. "Since air fryers usually come with additional racks, you can use them to toast buns, too." 

This works best if the bread is already quite soft and you prefer a slightly crunchier bun. Try brushing the bread with butter and leaving it in the fryer for a minute or two. 

Dress up the top of your buns with grated cheese and herbs.

Load up your buns with fragrant herbs and cheese for an extra-special burger. 

"Yes, even your bun can have toppings," Cabrera said. "Grate some Parmesan cheese and add some herbs right on top of the bun to add a rich taste."

Basil, parsley, cumin, and thyme are perfect for adding tempting flavor and aroma to your buns. Stick the buns under your oven's broiler for a few moments to help the cheese melt.

Add toasted sesame seeds to the top of the buns.

Sesame seeds aren't just for decoration. When prepared correctly, they can add a lot of flavor to a burger bun.

"Toasted sesame seeds help bring out the flavor of yeast-based bread," Cabrera told BI. "Once you try adding them to store-bought buns, you will understand how something so small can make a big difference."

Toast the sesame seeds in the oven by spreading them on a lined baking sheet and baking at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes or until they're golden brown.

You can use a light coating of oil to help them adhere to the top of the bun. 

Add roasted garlic and olive oil to infuse the whole bun with flavor.

Alto recommended roasting garlic by wrapping the cloves in foil with olive oil and placing them in the oven for an hour on low heat.

"After they've been roasted, I spread the garlic on the toasted bun along with some of the garlic oil. This adds a subtle, sweet garlic flavor to the bun and throughout the whole burger," Alto said. 

If you have enough garlic-infused oil left after treating your buns, drizzle some onto the burger patty for added moisture and flavor. 

This story was originally published on August 5, 2020, and most recently updated on May 21, 2025.