Prototype EVs Driving from China to Germany
Two prototype electric SUVs made by Chinese carmaker Aiways have begun a 14,200-km (8,800-mile) test drive from Xian, China, to Frankfurt, Germany.
#hybrid
Two prototype electric SUVs made by Chinese carmaker Aiways have begun a 14,200-km (8,800-mile) test drive from Xian, China, to Frankfurt, Germany.
The two U5 midsize crossovers left Xian on July 17 and don’t expect to reach Germany until early September, in time for the Frankfurt auto show. The cars plan to pass through the Gobi Desert and make stops in Kazakhstan, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Norway and France.

Aiways says it will use the trip to evaluate its car’s performance, durability and reliability.
The 4-year-old startup expects to launch U5 sales in China in September. The ambitious company hopes to begin selling the crossover in France, Germany Norway and the Netherlands next spring.
The front-wheel-drive U5 has a range of as much as 560 km (350 miles) per charge, according to the company. Aiways’ website indicates the chassis that carries the two-row U5 can be reconfigured to carry a sedan, 3-row SUV or minivan body.
RELATED CONTENT
-
When Automated Production Turning is the Low-Cost Option
For the right parts, or families of parts, an automated CNC turning cell is simply the least expensive way to produce high-quality parts. Here’s why.
-
On Automotive: An All Electric Edition
A look at electric vehicle-related developments, from new products to recycling old batteries.
-
Multiple Choices for Light, High-Performance Chassis
How carbon fiber is utilized is as different as the vehicles on which it is used. From full carbon tubs to partial panels to welded steel tube sandwich structures, the only limitation is imagination.