Shanghai firm to launch U5 SUV and Nathalie supercar at the Geneva motor show
25 January 2019

Chinese manufacturer Aiways will begin a push into the European car market in March, with the launch of its U5 electric SUV at the Geneva motor show

Promising competitive pricing, connectivity and safety, the U5 will act as a budget alternative to other electric mid-size SUVs such as the Audi E-tron and Mercedes-Benz EQC.

Aiways claims the U5’s “highly innovative body construction and powertrain” will help to cement it as “one of the safest and most technologically advanced products in the rapidly expanding European mid-size SUV segment”. 

Founded in 2017 by CEO Gary Gu and company president Samuel Fu, Aiways employs more than 1100 people across its research and development, battery construction and vehicle production facilities. The U5 is the company’s first mass-production model and bears a close resemblance to an electric SUV concept shown at the Beijing motor show last year. 

The company’s move into Europe is the latest in a succession of global pushes by Chinese brands. In 2018 Chery Automobile opened a new facility in Germany, and the country’s long-standing biggest manufacturer, Haval, aims to begin exporting a range of affordable SUVs in the next few years.  

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Aiways also incorporates Gumpert Aiways, led by Roland Gumpert, designer of the Nurbürgring lap record-holding Apollo supercar. Alongside the Aiways U5, the RG Nathalie methanol fuel cell-powered electric supercar, which we drove last year, will also be shown at Geneva.

Powered by four 137bhp electric motors, the Nathalie is predicted to be capable of a 2.5sec 0-62mph time and a 190mph top speed. An innovative methanol fuel cell stack developed by Danish firm Serenergy promises higher electrical efficiency than regular hydrogen cells and a claimed range of 530 miles. 

The methanol-powered Nathalie is the first in a range of upcoming RG small sports cars and is likely to be priced from around €400,000.

Read more

New Gumpert RG Nathalie fuel cell EV – details and first ride

China’s biggest car maker targets global launch​

Insight: could China's SUVs compete internationally?

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289

25 January 2019

....another one headed in this direction! God help us.

I doubt you will acheive 530 miles range if you are exploring the ststed performance figures....and as for Methanol fuelled cars.....! Sure, you see a lot of methanol pumps in service stations dont you?

Great in a drag racing car or a vintage supercharged racing car but.....

25 January 2019
289 wrote:

I doubt you will acheive 530 miles range if you are exploring the ststed performance figures...

Which is also true for an ICE ?

25 January 2019

Good luck with this one selling high end cars in Europe by a company which was established in 2017,it could well be launched at Geneva but I'd bet that it'll be some time before it's sold in Blighty

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