Aiways U5 Becomes First Electric Chinese SUV To Reach Europe

China’s first model to tackle Europe’s electric car market is the Aiways U5 and as you can see, it’s an SUV.

The Shanghai-based carmaker has managed to secure all the required permits and certifications for a European launch, and is planning on starting sales in the second quarter of 2020, stated its co-founder Fu Qiang during an interview. The U5 will otherwise go on sale in China this month, reports Autonews Europe.

Its debut in Europe will be closely monitored by multiple other Chinese EV-makers that hope to achieve success on the Old Continent. The road to drawing customers away from the likes of Tesla or the VW Group won’t be an easy one though, despite Aiways adapting the European variant of the U5 to local requirements.

Also read: Aiways U5 EV Reaches Frankfurt After Epic 9,334-Mile Drive From China, Sets World Record

“I believe we will be the first,” said Fu during the interview. Others “are still in the preparation period,” or even further away with their plans, he stated.

Of course, convincing European customers that a Chinese SUV can live up to their expectations is one of Aiways’ main challenges, especially since other Chinese companies have failed in that department before. On the flip side, Chinese consumer goods and mobile phone producers have built up trust with global customers, which is something that might translate into the automotive industry.

Aiways will launch the U5 in China on November 29, with pricing to commence from 200,000 yuan to 300,000 yuan ($29,000 to $43,000).

Once in Europe, the EV-maker will try to reach customers through pop-up stores, leasing offers and various local partners. The starting price for the entry-level model is roughly 25,000 euros ($28,000), making the U5 considerably less expensive than its European alternatives for this segment.