Aiways U5 History

The Aiways U5 was unveiled in production form at the 2018 Beijing Auto Show, and the company began Chinese deliveries in December 2019 from its Shangrao, Jiangxi factory. The U5 was positioned as a mid-size electric crossover roughly 4,680 mm in length, powered by a 150 kW (201 hp) permanent-magnet synchronous motor drawing from a 63 kWh lithium-ion battery pack — good for a claimed WLTP range of around 400 km.

Aiways made history when the U5 became the first electric vehicle from a fully Chinese brand to go on official sale in Western Europe: Netherlands and Belgium deliveries started in December 2020 at €39,950, followed by Germany, France, and Denmark in May 2021. The launch was originally planned for the cancelled 2020 Geneva Motor Show. A 2021 refresh updated the exterior styling without changing the core drivetrain or dimensions. Euro NCAP awarded the U5 a three-star rating (73% adult occupant protection) in 2019, a result that limited its appeal in safety-conscious European markets.

Production continued until Aiways' financial crisis struck in mid-2023, when employee salaries were suspended and manufacturing halted. By May 2024 Aiways had officially withdrawn from the Chinese market, leaving the U5 without a successor in its home country. European after-sales support arrangements remained uncertain following the company's restructuring.