• More than 2,500 Aiways U5 models sent overseas since May 2020
• Aiways U5 built at state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Shangrao, China
• Aiways also celebrating four-year anniversary of Shangrao groundbreaking
• Fully-owned €1.73bn facility built in just 14 months, U5 production started February, 2019

Shanghai, 23 May – Aiways, the Shanghai-based personal mobility provider, is celebrating one year of exporting its U5 battery electric SUV to Europe – which is already on sale in five European markets, with more to follow soon.

Since May 2020, the company has exported more than 2,500 Aiways U5 models, and in the process, became the first Chinese EV startup to sell cars in Europe. Customers in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany and the Netherlands can already order the Aiways U5 online or via dedicated retailers, with further EFTA and Southern European countries by the end of 2021.

Alex Klose, Executive Vice President of Overseas Operations at Aiways, commented: “We’ve quietly gone about building our presence in Europe, and after a year of exporting the U5 overseas, we’re happy with our progress so far. There’s still a lot more work to do – we’re frequently asked by citizens of other European countries as to when they can buy the U5. We’re committed to make electromobility accessible to all of them.”

Four years in Shangrao

Aiways is also celebrating another milestone in May – four years since starting construction of its fully-owned, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Shangrao, Jiangxi Province, China. Finished within just 14 months, Aiways U5 production started at the plant in February, 2019.

Situated in the catchment area of three prosperous economic zones, the Yangtze River Delta, Haixi and Wanjiang, the Shangrao industrial park is set to become China’s major automotive hub, with five other OEMs joining Aiways there over the next few years. This will have a positive impact on Aiways’ ambitions, helping to streamline the region’s automotive supply chain and attract talent from across China and the world.

The product of a ¥13.3 billion (€1.73 billion), the Aiways facility is a step-change in Chinese automotive manufacturing. Aiways dedicated electric vehicle construction plant leads the way in Chinese manufacturing by using the most advanced technologies and intelligent systems.

To ensure outstanding quality and efficiency, Aiways is collaborating with German company Siemens on a ‘two factories – one facility’ concept. This utilizes a highly detailed cloud-based virtual model of the plant that communicates online with the physical facility. This allows Aiways to monitor every step of the production process, with a self-learning system able to detect, report and correct even the smallest irregularities, without interrupting the overall production process.

The 633,328 square meter plant consists of a stamping plant, body shop, paint shop, unique battery packing station and assembly shop, and can build up to 150,000 units per year currently, and will be able to produce 300,000 units in the near future.

-Ends-

About Aiways

Founded in 2017, Aiways is a Shanghai-based personal mobility provider with its European HQ in Munich, Germany. It was the first Chinese startup to introduce an electric vehicle to the European market with the launch of the U5 in 2020 – a battery-electric SUV with impressive range, style and quality. Aiways continues its expansion in Europe and beyond: order books are open in Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, France, and Israel – with more markets to follow. The U5 is produced at Aiways smart production facility in Shangrao – one of the most modern car production facilities in China. With an initial production capacity of 150,000 units per annum, Aiways can increase this number to 300,000 units when global EV demand rises. Aiways’ next model for Europe will be the U6 electric coupé. With a focus on class-leading aerodynamics, intelligent technology and sporty design, the U6 investigates the exciting future of the Aiways brand.

Media information

You can find all Aiways press releases and press kits, as well as a wide selection of high resolution, downloadable photographs and video footage on the media website: http://media.ai-ways.eu/.

Aiways media contacts

Anika Wild, Aiways Automobile Europe GmbH
+49 (0) 89 6931352-69
anika.wild@ai-ways.com

Emma Hai, Aiways
+86 186 0104 2089
yang.hai@ai-ways.com / emma.hai@ai-ways.com

James Parsons, PFPR Communications
+44 (0)7725 257792
James.parsons@pfpr.com