Skip advert
Advertisement

Skywell BE11 takes aim at the premium all-electric SUV market

Chinese firm Skywell will begin UK sales later this year

Skywell BE11 front 3/4

More competition from China has arrived in the UK electric car market - this time in the shape of Skywell and its mid-size SUV, the BE11. 

Skywell will be pitched as a rival to the likes of BMW and Mercedes so this all-electric BE11 will compete against the likes of the BMW iX3 and Mercedes EQC when it arrives in the UK in Autumn this year. 

The BE11 has an upright bodystyle like a traditional SUV. There’s LED front headlights with foglights lower down, chrome trim around the windows and lower sills, 19-inch alloy wheels and a skid-plate style to the rear bumper. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

Inside, the BE11 comes with a wood veneer and piano black dash with a 12.8-inch touchscreen in the middle. There’s also a panoramic roof, keyless go, an electric bootlid and a 360-degree camera all standard across the BE11 range. The BE11 in China comes with a wireless smartphone charger, vehicle-to-load power supply and dual-zone air-conditioning.

Available with either a 72kWh battery or a larger 86kWh unit, the BE11 only comes with a single electric motor. It’s mounted on the front axle and delivers 201bhp and 320Nm of torque for a 0-62mph time of 9.6 seconds and a 93mph top speed. The smaller battery has a WLTP-rated range of 248 miles with the larger battery offering up to 304 miles. Skywell claims a recharge from 30 to 80 per cent will take 30 minutes. 

Skywell BE11 front 3/4

Full specifications and pricing haven’t been announced yet, but the BE11 will be “generously equipped and competitively priced” according to Skywell’s UK distributor, Innovation Automotive - the same company that distributes Seres and DFSK vehicles. 

Samir Hmicho, Chairman at Innovation Automotive, said, “The BE11 sets a new standard for specification and pricing in the mid-size e-SUV market, helping make the switch to electrification more affordable for families and individuals alike”.

Want the latest car news in your inbox? Sign up to the free Auto Express email newsletter...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Senior news reporter

A keen petrol-head, Alastair Crooks has a degree in journalism and worked as a car salesman for a variety of manufacturers before joining Auto Express in Spring 2019 as a Content Editor. Now, as our senior news reporter, his daily duties involve tracking down the latest news and writing reviews.

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Skywell BE11 review
Skywell BE11 - front

Skywell BE11 review

The Skywell BE11 holds price and practicality amongst its merits, but lags behind its rivals in too many key areas
In-depth reviews
19 Dec 2024

Most Popular

New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment
Xiaomi YU7 - front cornering

New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment

BMW or Mercedes would do anything to keep the new Xiaomi YU7 from sale in the UK and Europe, and this is why
Road tests
14 Jul 2025
Electric Car Grant in detail: Which cars will get the UK EV discount?
Auto Express creative director Darren Wilson charging the Lexus RZ

Electric Car Grant in detail: Which cars will get the UK EV discount?

The government has set out its plan to help reduce the cost of affordable EVs by introducing a new £3,750 Electric Car Grant for new EVs sold under £3…
News
18 Jul 2025
Electric Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake will keep going long after rivals need to stop
Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake - front action

Electric Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake will keep going long after rivals need to stop

The second of Merc’s new-era EVs is here in the form of an attractive estate with a huge range
News
14 Jul 2025