BEIJING, March 19 (Reuters) - China's Xiaomi ( XIACF )

said on Thursday that its updated SU7 vehicle was priced from

219,900 yuan ($31,870) as the Chinese EV maker keeps racing

against Tesla.

That is lower than its pre-sale price which started from

229,900 yuan.

Xiaomi ( XIACF ) hosted a big event on Thursday to unveil its updated

SU7 sedan that it pits against Tesla Model 3.

The new SU7 is less expensive but with a longer range than

Tesla Model 3, CEO Lei Jun said during the event.

Lei brought celebrities onto the stage to promote the latest

model and drew applause and cheers from his fans and supporters.

The updated vehicle features mechanical door handles,

changed from hidden door handles, and dedicated backup power

supply that is fully compliant with upcoming Chinese safety

standards that will apply from next year, Lei said.

Xiaomi's ( XIACF ) Max SU7 will be priced from 303,900 yuan, the

company said.

($1 = 6.8998 Chinese yuan renminbi)