Roewe RX5 History

Officially unveiled on 9 June 2016 and launched in China in July 2016, the Roewe RX5 was billed as the world's first mass-produced internet-connected vehicle, developed in partnership with Alibaba Group. The car ran Alibaba's YunOS (later AliOS) operating system — the same OS used in Alibaba's smart home devices — and offered each driver a personal 'internet ID' that saved preferences and delivered tailored recommendations for music, climate, and nearby services across connected screens.

Available with 1.5-litre or 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engines, the RX5 was an immediate commercial hit: it became the top-selling Chinese-brand SUV in its first month, selling at the equivalent of one vehicle every two minutes and driving a 205 percent spike in Roewe's August 2016 sales. The combination of competitive pricing (starting around RMB 148,800 / US$22,300) and genuine internet integration made it a landmark product for Chinese automotive technology.

The RX5 has continued through multiple updates, spawning the eRX5 plug-in hybrid and a fully electric ERX5, and remains in the Roewe lineup. Outside China it influenced the MG lineup's connected-car strategy.