Skywell. All is Well
Skywell is a new Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer operating under the motto ‘Skywell: All is Well’. Skywell’s logo resembles a shield, start button, rotor and magnet. The company is definitely doing well with its own electric platforms BE and CE, the new ET5 electric SUVs, plans to launch at least four models by 2025, a sufficient amount of intelligent technologies and real Chinese perseverance. The new Skywell specializes in passenger cars equipped with electronics by Skyworth, a major manufacturer of electronics and home appliances, in particular TVs. But there is also the “old” Skywell, a well-established bus manufacturer.
Origins
Like almost all newly emerging Chinese automotive companies, Skywell is characterized by an obscure history, a lack of information and an incomprehensible positioning of unknown cars. It has a Jack-in-the-box vibe, as it appeared out of nowhere and surprised everyone. But this is only at first glance. It is worth digging a little deeper to discover a long, albeit slightly confusing history of the great Chinese path.
The new electric vehicle brand Skywell is owned by businessman Huang Hong Shan, founder of Skyworth and the ‘old’ Skywell. Founded in 2011, Sky-well New Energy Automobile Group Co. Ltd. has been successfully producing buses and trucks for a long time. By manufacturing and selling large, medium and light buses, passenger cars and related components and parts as the main body, it has gradually become China’s leading enterprise with a focus on alternative vehicles. Initially producing new energy buses, Sky-well moved on to other types of vehicle. In 2019, Sky-well ranked second in China for the production of electric buses. Today, Sky-well produces about 18 million vehicles, including a whole series of new energy passenger cars, which are sold in many countries and regions of Southeast Asia.
The major TV manufacturer Skyworth and the new car brand Skywell are closely related, as they are both owned by the Chinese businessman Huang Hong Shan. Skyworth Group recently transferred 11 trademark rights to Skywell. Tianmei Auto, a subsidiary of Skywell, was officially renamed Skyworth Auto. The Skyworth ET5 is actually the Tianmei ET5 or simply the Skywell ET5. In 2019, Skywell formed Kuwo Smart Vehicle Technology Corporation with Skyworth to develop an intelligent connectivity system that enables continuous AI voice interaction and intelligent communication between vehicles and buildings.
New electric vehicle brand
Skywell’s new electric vehicle brand officially entered the market in 2017. In November 2020, the company unveiled its first all-electric midsize SUV, the Tianmei ET5. The new ET5 is equipped with an intelligent voice-controlled Skylink system, which, together with other electronics, was provided by Skyworth. The SUV has 15 autonomous functions and a Level 2 autopilot (at least for now). The ET5 and three more upcoming models will be produced at the Jiangsu plant with a capacity of 300,000 cars per year.
Interestingly, Skywell vehicles, originally targeted at entrepreneurs and government officials in China, are now being shipped to Europe, the United States and Israel. Moreover, the Skywell ET5 became the first Chinese electric passenger vehicle in the United States. Moreover, electric vehicles under the Skywell brand are supplied by Skyworth, not the other way around. The Skywell ET5 is also supplied to Europe, particularly to Germany, under the Elaris Beo brand. Apparently, Skywell-Skyworth is gradually expanding the geography of supply of its vehicle. In 2021, Skywell already operates seven production facilities that develop and manufacture batteries, motors and electronic controls for new energy vehicles.
