Jiyue Auto, backed by Geely and Baidu, out of the blue collapsed throughout a monetary disaster involving worker wage arrears, division closures, and provide chain points. In November, Jiyue 01 and Jiyue 07 recorded gross sales of simply 902 and 1,030 items, respectively, with cumulative gross sales amounting to solely round 14,000 items since they had been launched.
One of many greatest disappointments of Jiyue’s downfall is that the Robo X hypercar, which debuted on the Guangzhou Auto Present, won’t ever see the sunshine of day. The Robo X was initially deliberate for a 2027 launch.
Considerations have arisen as live-streaming platforms in China promote Jiyue 07 at closely discounted costs, starting from 19,800 to 29,800 yuan (2,710 to 4,080 USD), prompting doubts about their legitimacy. Whereas Jiyue officers deny involvement and make clear that gross sales have been halted, conflicting experiences concerning the firm’s standing have raised alarms amongst potential patrons.
We examined the Jiyue 07 (see specs) earlier. Was this automotive a consider Jiyue’s demise?
Exterior
The Jiyue 07 is designed with a minimalist aesthetic that displays the model’s futuristic imaginative and prescient. With a size of 4953 mm, a width of 1989 mm, and a wheelbase of 3013 mm, it firmly establishes itself throughout the C-segment. Its design philosophy facilities on simplicity, with streamlined surfaces and built-in lighting parts.
The entrance of the automobile encompasses a smooth, flat headlight design that includes an interactive lighting system, giving the automotive a contemporary and high-tech look. The facet profile is outlined by elegant Venus-inspired curves and hidden B-pillars, emphasizing its easy silhouette. An optionally available rear spoiler provides a sporty contact to the automobile, whereas its drag coefficient of simply 0.198 highlights its deal with aerodynamics and effectivity.
Inside
The Jiyue 07 delivers a high-tech, premium really feel. The cabin is dominated by an enormous 36.5-inch display screen consolidating infotainment and driver information, just like the one on the Geely Galaxy E8 (see specs). The display screen is powered by Baidu’s Apollo autonomous driving platform and the Snapdragon 8295P chipset, making certain easy and dependable efficiency. The automotive additionally options an clever voice assistant that permits intuitive interplay, providing a “what you see is what you say” function that allows easy instructions.
The inside supplies combine high-quality metals and ambient lighting, making a premium environment. Notably, the absence of typical gear shifters displays the modernity of the Jiyue 07, opting as a substitute for a touchscreen interface that controls gear choice. Whereas some drivers could discover this function unconventional, it aligns with the automotive’s cutting-edge, minimalist design. The seats are ergonomically designed, offering stable assist, and the automobile’s lengthy wheelbase interprets to beneficiant legroom, enhancing consolation for passengers. Modern options, equivalent to door buttons as a substitute of conventional handles and computerized door closures upon braking, contribute to the futuristic and user-friendly expertise.
Behind the Wheel
Throughout our take a look at drive, the Jiyue 07 demonstrated responsive dealing with on winding mountain roads, providing a dynamic and cozy driving expertise. The automotive’s suspension successfully absorbed bumps on uneven city streets, making certain a easy journey for passengers.
Continental tires contribute to the automobile’s assured dealing with, offering good grip and stability. The regenerative braking system enhanced the driving expertise by effectively recovering vitality and offering a easy, responsive braking really feel. Drivers can alter the braking depth to match their preferences, providing a extra customized expertise. Below combined driving circumstances, the automotive’s vitality consumption averaged 18 kWh per 100 kilometers, aligning with its theoretical most vary of 600 km.
Because of its dual-motor configuration, the Jiyue 07 boasts spectacular efficiency. With a claimed 0-100 kph acceleration time of simply 3.5 seconds, it’s a compelling choice for customers in search of high-performance EVs throughout the C-segment. The automobile’s dealing with advantages from its finely tuned chassis, based mostly on Geely’s SEA platform, which balances agility and luxury.
Verdict
The Jiyue 07 entered a aggressive market dominated by established gamers and new entrants like Xiaomi. Whereas its modern design, superior expertise, and high-performance options make it enticing, but it didn’t stand out within the Chinese language market. Jiyue’s struggles with model recognition, monetary instability, and operational challenges have created important hurdles. Even the corporate identify “Jiyue” is well confused with “Zeekr” in Chinese language. Each firm names have two Chinese language characters, starting with “极” that means excessive. To not point out, Geely backs each Jiyue and Zeekr.
Though supported by Geely and Baidu, Jiyue’s monetary struggles have overshadowed its ambitions within the EV sector. Allegations of unpaid wages, division dissolutions, unsold automobiles (Jiyue 01 and 07), and makes an attempt to promote automobiles at unusually low costs by way of unauthorized channels have broken its credibility. On the similar worth section, automotive patrons can decide the favored Xiaomi SU7, Zeekr 007, Lynk & Co Z10, and even the cheaper Mazda EZ-6 with related dimensions.
Keep tuned for subsequent week’s Sunday China Drive at Automotive Information China, the place you may learn extra first-person evaluations of Chinese language automobiles.
