Aiways U5 electric SUV to launch in UK next year
Chinese manufacturer Aiways will bring its pure-electric U5 SUV to Europe in mid 2023
A new electric car brand is coming to the UK market, called Aiways. The Chinese manufacturer will launch its U5 SUV in the second half of 2023, taking aim at the likes of the Skoda Enyaq and Volkswagen ID.4.
This isn’t the first time we’ve heard of Aiways. Founded in 2017, the firm was going to deliver vehicles in Europe back in 2020, however those plans fell through - most likely due to the coronavirus pandemic.
A spokesperson from Aiways said, “we are planning to expand to RHD markets from mid/end of next year, but no dates can be given at this time. We would start with the UK and then look at other markets after that.”
The U5 itself looks like it’ll compete in the mid-size, pure-electric SUV market, measuring 4,680mm long and 1,800mm tall. Aiways says interior space will be generous; rear-seat passengers should benefit from plenty of leg- and headroom. An electronic tailgate offers access to a 432-litre boot, which grows to 1,555 litres with the rear seats folded.
Aiways also claims that the U5 will offer over 250 miles of range on a single charge, while the 63kWh battery will be able to charge from 30 to 80 per cent in 27 minutes. Power comes from a single electric motor producing 185bhp and 315Nm driving the front wheels. Aiways says the U5 will have 100,000-mile service intervals.
The U5’s body is constructed from a combination of aluminium and steel, which Aiways says offers both rigidity and safety. The U5 has achieved a five-star safety rating in Chinese crash tests and the firm claims that, once it arrives in Europe, the U5 will be one of the safest mid-size SUVs on the market.
Driver convenience features include lane-keeping assistance, a driver fatigue monitoring system, automated parking and traffic jam assist. Inside, the U5 will receive a 12.3-inch infotainment system, a set of quirky leather seats and a “tri-fold” digital instrument binnacle.
Pricing for the U5 should start at around £35,000 when it comes to the UK next year.
Check out what happened when we pitched the Tesla Model Y against the Audi Q4 e-tron here…
