Kaiyi EV Portfolio

Kaiyi is an EV brand owned by Chery Automobile and made in China. This model portfolio showcases the shift toward zero-emission mobility.

Vehicles are organized by model family. A model family is an OEM-defined product program sharing a common platform, architecture, and market positioning, from which multiple body styles, variants, and trims are derived.

Kaiyi EV Model Families

List of Kaiyi EV model families - only all-electric (BEV) models are listed:

Kaiyi EV Technology

Platform = level of vehicle platform maturity or advancement, and its dominant system voltage.
Shared = ICE-derived | Dedicated = EV-native platform | SDV-Native = future-proof

E/E Architecture: degree of integration and maturity of the vehicle’s electronic/electric control systems (from Baseline legacy wiring to Advanced domain/zonal designs).
Baseline = Distributed ECUs | Modern = Domain-based | SDV-Native = Zonal-based with central compute

OTA Capability = scope of Over-The-Air updates supported — from Baseline basic infotainment to Advanced control and systems firmware.
Baseline = Infotainment/maps | Limited = Infotainment+ | Partial = Multiple systems | Advanced = Most systems | Full = Full-vehicle updateable

Battery Suppliers = primary traction battery suppliers across the model lineup.

Power Inverter Tech = power electronics technology used (silicon carbide SiC vs silicon), which affects efficiency and thermal performance.
IGBT = Conventional | SiC = High-efficiency | GaN = Next-generation, pilots

About Kaiyi

Kaiyi Auto (also known as Shiyue Automobile) is a Chinese automaker founded in 2014 and headquartered in Yibin, Sichuan Province. Originally established as a joint venture between Chery Automobile and the Yibin municipal government, Kaiyi operates as an independent subsidiary within the Chery Group ecosystem. The brand is focused on developing affordable, youthful, and design centric vehicles for China's fast growing entry and mid market segments, with a growing emphasis on new energy vehicles (NEVs) including hybrids and fully electric models.

Kaiyi's product lineup includes a mix of sedans, crossovers, and SUVs marketed under names such as the Kaiyi E5, Xuandu, and KX5. The company has begun transitioning to electrification through plug in hybrid and battery electric variants, supported by Chery's advanced powertrain technologies and supply chain resources. Its first mass production electric model, the Kaiyi Shiyue, launched in 2024 as a compact all electric hatchback aimed at urban mobility. The Shiyue is built on a dedicated small vehicle EV platform featuring a front mounted motor, a 41-51 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack, and a range of up to 430 kilometers (CLTC). It also supports DC fast charging and OTA updates, aligning with the latest Chinese EV consumer expectations.

The Shiyue's design emphasizes simplicity and practicality, with a clean exterior profile, intelligent cockpit, and digital connectivity features such as voice control and app based remote management. The vehicle is targeted at younger, first time EV buyers seeking affordable zero emission transport, placing it in competition with models such as the BYD Dolphin, Leapmotor T03, and Neta Aya. The launch of the Shiyue marked Kaiyi's entry into the fully electric market and established its foundation for future NEV product expansion.

Kaiyi's production and R&D base in Yibin is supported by state investment and forms part of the city's broader strategy to build a regional automotive innovation hub in western China. The company plans to introduce additional pure electric and hybrid models through 2026, leveraging Chery's modular EV platforms and supply networks. Its design and marketing approach aim to position Kaiyi as a "young, connected, and practical" mobility brand distinct from Chery's more premium divisions such as Exeed and Jetour.

Pure Electric Identity

Kaiyi is a developing pure play electric automaker, transitioning its lineup toward full zero emission mobility. Built on small to midsize EV platforms optimized for affordability and urban efficiency, Kaiyi combines accessible design, digital intelligence, and scalable manufacturing to deliver practical and connected electric vehicles for China's mainstream market.