3 days ago
23
The latest electric car from China is a budget-priced family SUV from Skyworth – formerly marketed as the Skywell, or EV Automotive EVA 5 locally – rated for nearly 500km of driving range.
Electric Cars
- 2025 Skyworth BE11 pricing and specifications
- Formerly known as EV Automotive EVA 5, or Skywell ET5
- 489km claimed range in two model grades
- Priced from $48,990 before on-road costs
The first electric passenger vehicle from Chinese car brand Skyworth – a mid-size SUV akin to a Tesla Model Y – is due in local showrooms later this year with a new name and a price below $50,000 before on-road costs.
It was initially planned to be badged in Australia as the EV Automotive EVA 5 – named after its local distributor EV Automotive – or Skywell ET5 but has returned to the Skyworth BE11 name to better align with overseas markets.
A mid-size SUV aimed at the likes of the Model Y and Kia EV5, the BE11 is offered in two variants, rated for 489km of driving range in European WLTP testing from an 86kWh battery and 150kW/320Nm electric motor.
And the cars destined for customer driveways will upgrade to faster 800-volt charging much faster than the 45 minutes needed to boost from 20 to 70 per cent in current models.
Prices start from $48,990 plus on-road costs for the Comfort grade – dearer than a Geely EX5 ($40,490 to $44,490 plus on-roads) and in line with a Leapmotor C10 BEV (from $45,888 to $49,888 plus on-roads).
It undercuts established rivals such as the Model Y (from $58,900 plus on-roads) and EV5 (from $56,770 drive-away).
The better-equipped Luxury grade is priced from $52,990 plus on-road costs, adding equipment – detailed at the bottom of this story – such as a sunroof and a larger touchscreen.
While it is new to Australia – and only recently dipped its toe into passenger vehicles – the Skyworth car brand is owned by a Chinese tech giant of the same name, which specialises in consumer electronics, batteries and other products.
It also produces electric vans and buses – the Skywell EC11, a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter look-a-like – which have been sold locally by the Australian distributor for five years.
Jack Puzin, CEO of Skyworth's Australian importer EV Automotive, told Drive the first examples of the BE11 will be with customers within three to six months.
The name change has been accompanied by a switch from initial plans to sell vehicles direct to consumers, to a more traditional showroom network with franchise dealerships.
"We just changed our gaze," Puzin said at the recent Everything Electric show in Sydney where the BE11 was displayed, "[it] I suppose helps us establish ourselves a lot more formally."
"We've been here for five years doing these things, doing these events. We're going to be here much longer. Although we have the capabilities to go direct, we prefer to sit with our dealers."
He said the company is pitching the cars as a simpler, more user-friendly alternative to other models in an increasingly-crowded mid-size electric SUV segment.
"These things are easy to own. The buttons are where they belong. It's not super complicated to use. You just get in and hit Drive.
"It's got indicator stalks, it's got screens. It's got buttons in the seats. You don't have to tap this, and do that, and pair that. If you want to, you can, but you don't have to."
He said "we're conscious of who our competition are all the time and we're always pulse checking where everyone else is.
"We don't want to race to the bottom, but invariably those things eventually happen. But right now we think we have a unique product."
Puzin said the car on display at Everything Electric will be upgraded again before reaching showrooms, particularly with faster charging above the 84kW of the current model.
"The next one that's coming that'll be available for the dealers is the facelift, and it's also the 800 volt battery, which will be faster charging.
"We understand the charging isn't optimal at the moment, but when the cars come out to the dealers it'll be 800 volt."
Asked if the first cars that reach customers will run at 800 volts, he said: "That's the intention. However, if customers are really eager and dealers are willing to work with us, it's quite possible we can give them an early version of the car."
In China – where the car has a smaller 65.7kWh battery – a seemingly class-leading 30 to 80 per cent charging time of just 7.5 minutes is claimed.
The current BE11 is claimed to charge from 20 to 70 per cent in 45 minutes, while AC charging at up to 11kW is also offered, along with vehicle-to-load functionality to power external electrical devices.
Skywell UK claims the 150kW/320Nm electric motor on the front axle is good for a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 9.6 seconds.
An ANCAP safety rating is in the works, Puzin said, with local testing and calibration of its suite of advanced safety systems underway.
Warranty coverage for the Skyworth SUV is currently pegged at seven years for the vehicle, and eight years for the battery, but Puzin said "working on something quite innovative that's not heard of in the industry for warranty."
"It's not more than 10 years [of coverage]. It's just the way we structure it and what we offer in that warranty," he said. "The ink hasn't dried yet, so I can't talk about it."
Skyworth dealers will be operated across the country, with locations tallying four in Victoria and New South Wales, three in Queensland, and further locations in South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania and the ACT.
Order books have not formally opened for the 2025 Skyworth BE11, but registrations of interest are now open on the brand's website ahead of first deliveries later this year.
"We'll pass the information on to the dealers," the executive said.
"When the dealer is available, they can start making phone calls to these people who registered their interest, and then take them for test drives, and take them through the dealer experience."
The Skyworth BE11 is set to be followed by two more models: the Q hatchback, which could be in showrooms within 12 months, and a new van to replace the EC11 known as the S233, with launch timing yet to be locked in.
2025 Skyworth BE11 price in Australia
- Skyworth BE11 Comfort – $48,990
- Skyworth BE11 Luxury – $52,990
Note: All prices above exclude on-road costs.
2025 Skyworth BE11 Comfort standard features:
- 86kWh battery and 150kW/320Nm electric motor
- 84kW DC and 11kW AC charging
- Vehicle-to-load capability
- LED headlights
- 19-inch alloy wheels with 235/50 tyres
- 12.8-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Grey Alcantara seat upholstery
- Leather-trimmed steering wheel
- Six-way power-adjustable front seats with driver memory, lumbar control
- Heated and ventilated front seats
- Wireless phone charging
- Keyless entry and start
- Power tailgate
- Auto-folding side mirrors with heating
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- 360-degree camera
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Lane-keep assist
- Lane centring assist
- Adaptive cruise control
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert with braking function
- Driver monitoring system
- Traffic sign recognition
- Tyre pressure monitoring
2025 Skyworth BE11 Luxury adds (over Comfort):
- 20-inch alloy wheels with 245/45 tyres
- Panoramic sunroof with power blind
- 15-inch touchscreen
- Rear privacy glass
- 128-colour ambient interior lighting
- Rear LED reading lights
- Side mirrors with auto dipping in reverse, memory
- PM2.5 air filtration system with "negative ion generator"
- White Alcantara upholstery – $1000, Comfort only
- Brown Alcantara upholstery – $TBC, Luxury only
- 'Silk White' upholstery – $TBC, Luxury only
Electric Cars Guide
Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
