Could another electric vehicle from a Chinese brand be launched in Malaysia? It certainly looks like it based on recent spyshots of this unmarked car with a trade plate roaming our roads.
Judging by the design of the taillights, this looks to be a JMEV Yi, which is also known as the Yichi 05 in China. The company is a joint venture that involves several parties, including Jiangling Motors Corporation Group (JMCG) and China Agricultural Development Construction Fund Corporation.
French automaker Renault is part of the JV too with a 50% stake that was announced way back in July 2019 when it invested one billion yuan (about RM580 million) to become the major shareholder. Prior to this, JMEV was established in 2015 by JMCG.
The Yi was first presented in 2021, and aside from being known as the Yichi 05 in its home market, the EV is also called the Elight, as is the case when it was launched in Singapore in August this year. Over there, the Elight is powered by a front electric motor rated at 147 PS (145 hp or 108 kW) and 225 Nm of torque, which is good for a top speed of 150 km/h and 0-100 km/h time of 8.9 seconds.
Powering the electric motor is a nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery with a capacity of 63 kWh. This enables a WLTP combined range of up to 460 km, and the battery supports DC fast charging that can get the battery from a 30-80% state of charge in 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, the Yichi 05 in China comes in different configurations, including a 56.31-kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery paired with a front electric motor with 224 PS (221 hp or 165 kW) and 210 Nm. There’s also a 63-kWh NMC battery with dual motors – 150 PS (148 hp or 110 kW) and 225 Nm front; 82 PS (80 hp or 60 kW) and 170 Nm rear; 231 PS (228 hp or 170 kW) and 395 Nm combined. The CLTC range of the Yichi 05 is between 470 and 550 km
In terms of dimensions, the Yi/Yichi 05/Elight is close in size to the current Honda Civic we have here, measuring in at 4,675 mm long, 1,835 mm wide, 1,480 mm tall and with a wheelbase spanning 2,750 mm.
Available features for the EV include an ADAS suite with adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitoring and lane keep assist. The kit list also includes matrix LED headlamps, powered front seats, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster as well as 14.6-inch central infotainment touchscreen (Singapore; China’s Yichi 05 is listed with a 12.3-inch unit).
Pricing for the Yichi 05 in China ranges from 129,800 to 66,800 yuan (RM75k to RM104k), with four variants offered. We don’t have official details yet if the Yi will be launched here, but the trade plate this unit wears (B 5034 A) is the same one seen on a Neta X previously – perhaps GoAuto is involved?
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SC01?
wow, more chinese brand vehicle coming ashore. i wonder what had happened to Borgward brand in malaysia. is it still alive and with full maker / distributor support ? is Neta Malaysia still alive ?
if this car needs to come in by AP, then it needs to meet 200kW motor requirement and selling not less than RM250k. can this Yichi05 meet this requirement ?
Why only the crappy ev come here
because if later the good superior EV come here but priced at above 250k then u gonna complain say why so expensive and only T20 could afford to buy it
Front and rear lights try to copy Toyota/Lexus.
cap ayam
I can hardly remember any Chinese brand names. They all sound like cap ayam’ brands to me
no need to remember so many as you will know them once they gain a strong foot hold locally, like last time korean cars also called korean cars, not mentioned by brand name.