This is the Jiyue 07 and it is the latest electric vehicle released through the Geely and Baidu joint venture in China. Its arrival comes just a couple of months after the Jiyue 01 was unveiled as a direct rival to the Tesla Model Y and while the first images of it have only just been unveiled, it has already been named both an iF Design Award 2023 and Red Dot 2023 design winner – and if you ask us, rightly so.
The 07 takes the form of a mid-size fastback, and although specific details are limited, it seems to be roughly comparable in size to the Tesla Model 3. Its design shares many similarities with the 01 SUV and that’s no bad thing as the Model Y rival looks modern, sleek, and stylish. Dominating the front end of the 07 are a pair of LED headlights with a very intriguing shape and a full-width LED light bar. A large black grille also catches the eye.
Read: The Jiyue 01 Is A New Geely SUV That Ought To Terrify Tesla’s Model Y
We think the side profile of the latest Jiyue model is particularly stunning and suspect judges from the iF Design Award and Red Dot think so too. The roofline flows back beautifully and the sculpted shoulder line highlights one of the car’s most attractive elements. When viewed from above, you’ll notice the liftback is equipped with a full-length panoramic sunroof. The taillights and light bar are very similar to that of the 01, as well as the unrelated MG 4.
Jiyue had previously offered a glimpse of the interior of its new EV with a single photo. It showcases a wrap-around dashboard that prominently features a massive, continuous central-mounted screen and minimalist design elements. Additionally, the vehicle is equipped with a yoke steering wheel, although it remains uncertain whether this will be the only steering wheel option available.
According to Chinese media as well as Car News China, the 07 is underpinned by the same SEA architecture used by a host of Geely vehicles, including the Volvo EX90, Volvo EX30, Polestar 4, Zeekr 001, Zeekr X, Zeekr 009, and Zeekr 007. Like the 01, the entry-level 07 has a 268 hp electric motor and a 71.4 kWh battery pack while the flagship model will launch with a dual-motor setup with 536 hp and fed by a 100 kWh pack.
Geely and Baidu first formed their joint venture in 2021 and Baidu initially held a 55% stake in it. However, the partnership has since been restructured so Geely owns 65% and handles manufacturing while Baidu has a 35% stake and is behind the software, connectivity functions, and the advanced autonomous driving systems.
