- The SC01’s launch is one of the most low-profile new car launches in China’s auto industry.
- With a curb weight of 1,365 kg, the SC01 can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.9 seconds.
A Chinese startup backed by smartphone giant Xiaomi (HKG: 1810, OTCMKTS: XIACY) has officially rolled out its first model — an affordable electric sports car — after unveiling it in September 2022.
Car tuning startup China Car Custom (工匠派 in Chinese) announced yesterday the official launch of its SC01 electric sports car, with a starting price of RMB 229,800 ($31,530).
The model’s launch is one of the most low-profile in China’s auto industry, with no grand launch event or buzzing social media marketing, just a few simple Weibo posts from its founder Feng Xiaotong.
“No launch event, no PPT, I may prefer to do this briefing in the way we are more accustomed to in the past few years, and I hope I can get your support,” Feng said in one of the Weibo posts.
“The little sports car is officially on the market, I hope I can be of service to you,” he said.
There is an SC01 on display at Hall 2.2 at the ongoing 2025 Shanghai auto show, according to Feng, without mentioning a specific booth.
In addition to the low-profile launch, the electric sports car’s name is also very low-profile, being referred to only as the “Small Sports Car SC01” without an official brand.
The model is produced by Jiangxi Jiangling Group NEV (JMEV), according to a regulatory filing in January.
The SC01 is 4,106 millimeters long, 1,830 millimeters wide, 1,170 millimeters high and has a wheelbase of 2,503 millimeters, according to its filing.
It has a curb weight of 1,365 kg and supports a top speed of 200 kilometers per hour.
The model is available in only one variant with dual electric motors, both with a peak power of 160 kW.
Its powertrain’s combined peak power is 320 kW and peak torque is 560 Nm, allowing it to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.9 seconds.
The SC01 is powered by Li-ion ternary batteries supplied by CALB with a pack capacity of 60 kWh and has a CLTC range of 520 kilometers.
China Car Custom is a Xiaomi-backed company, with the smartphone maker’s co-founder and senior vice president Liu De as one of its directors, its registration information shows.
According to a report by local media outlet 36kr on September 26, 2022, Xiaomi spent tens of millions of yuan to invest in the startup.
China Car Custom was founded in 2014 by sports car enthusiast Feng, and has modified models including the Chery Little Ant, Porsche 911, and Mitsubishi 3000GT.
In August 2021, the now defunct WM Motor showcased the WM Weltmeister, capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in 1.8 seconds, which was modified by the team at China Car Custom.
The SC01 is aimed at a niche market in China that has very few local products, and SAIC Motor’s MG-branded Cyberster is one of them.
Deliveries of the MG Cyberster began on November 25, 2023, and it is currently priced at a starting price of RMB 319,800 in China.
Financially troubled Neta Auto also has an electric sports car, the Neta GT, which began deliveries in May 2023 and currently has a starting price of RMB 188,800 in China.
None of these homegrown sports cars have gained much traction in China, and all have generated limited sales.
($1 = RMB 7.2877)
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