What is Skywell? Complete brand, model and tech guide for UK car buyers
Skywell's UK importer, Innovation Automotive, is trying to grow the fledgling brand
Skywell sounds like a James Bond blockbuster, but is the minnow of the Chinese EV pack. Skyworth Auto emerged from a Nanjing bus company eight years ago, and the BMW X3-sized BE11 crossover is the first car. The long-range version covers up to 304 miles and costs £39,995, while the 248-mile standard range version is £3,000 cheaper.
It’s yet to make much UK impact; Skywell needs to convince leasing firms to offer a standalone car with unproven used values. Reinforcements arrive in 2026 with the ‘233’ electric panel van and the Q hatchback, an MG4 rival. A big saloon may follow.
| UK models: | Just the BE11 for now |
| Our pick: | Nothing stands out; the BE11’s range and charging are unimpressive |
| How big in China? | Automotive spin-off from an electronics and commercial vehicle group |
| 2023 global exports: | Not disclosed, but a future target is 50,000 units |
| 2025 UK registrations: | 20 |
| Retailer network and warranty: | 15 family-run dealers, plus two standalone service centres; seven-year/100,000-mile warranty |
| We say: | Skywell will be the acid test to see if a small player can crack a market dominated by big-spending BYD and established player MG |
Chinese car brands ranked by UK impact
Below is our Chinese power list, with all 17 brands ranked on current and potential UK market impact. Click the links to explore each manufacturer in detail...
| Rank | Brand |
| 1 | MG |
| 2 | BYD |
| 3 | Chery |
| 4 | Changan |
| 5 | Jaecoo |
| 6 | Leapmotor |
| 7 | Omoda |
| 8 | Polestar |
| 9 | XPeng |
| 10 | Geely |
| 11 | Smart |
| 12 | Lotus |
| 13 | GWM Ora |
| 14 | GWM Haval |
| 15 | GWM Poer |
| 16 | Maxus |
| 17 | Skywell |
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