A Chinese startup, supported by smartphone giant Xiaomi, has officially launched its first affordable electric sports car, the SC01. The announcement follows its initial unveiling in September 2022.
China Car Custom, the tuning startup behind the vehicle, revealed yesterday that the SC01 will start at RMB 229,800 ($31,530). Despite the significance of the launch, the event has been low-key, lacking a large-scale press conference or significant social media campaign. Founder Feng Xiaotong chose a simpler approach, sharing the news through Weibo posts. In one post, he wrote, “No launch event, no PPT, I prefer to do this briefing in the way we are more accustomed to in the past few years. I hope I can get your support.” He also stated, “The little sports car is officially on the market, and I hope I can be of service to you.”
The SC01 is being showcased at the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show, specifically in Hall 2.2, though the exact booth location has not been disclosed.
The car’s name, “Small Sports Car SC01,” reflects its humble branding, with no major brand name attached. According to a regulatory filing in January, the model is produced by Jiangxi Jiangling Group NEV (JMEV).
With a length of 4,106 millimeters, width of 1,830 millimeters, and height of 1,170 millimeters, the SC01 has a wheelbase of 2,503 millimeters. The car weighs 1,365 kg and boasts a top speed of 200 kilometers per hour.
The SC01 is available in one variant, featuring dual electric motors with a combined peak power of 320 kW and peak torque of 560 Nm. It can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.9 seconds. The vehicle is powered by Li-ion ternary batteries from CALB, with a 60 kWh battery pack that offers a range of 520 kilometers on the CLTC cycle.
China Car Custom, founded in 2014 by sports car enthusiast Feng Xiaotong, has received backing from Xiaomi. Xiaomi’s co-founder and senior vice president, Liu De, is listed as a director of the startup. Xiaomi reportedly invested tens of millions of yuan in the company in 2022.
Previously, China Car Custom has modified various cars, including the Chery Little Ant, Porsche 911, and Mitsubishi 3000GT. The team also worked on the WM Weltmeister, a vehicle capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 1.8 seconds.
The SC01 targets a niche market in China, with few local electric sports cars in competition. One notable rival is the SAIC Motor MG-branded Cyberster, which started deliveries in November 2023, priced at RMB 319,800. Another competitor, Neta Auto’s Neta GT, began deliveries in May 2023, with a starting price of RMB 188,800. However, sales for these homegrown electric sports cars have been limited.
Despite these challenges, the SC01 aims to carve a place in the growing electric vehicle market in China, where there is increasing demand for affordable, high-performance electric cars.
