Qoros and Baoneng Announce Soplatform Electric Vehicles

Remember the Qoros brand? Probably not, so let's remember. It was created by Chery and Kenon (a division of Israel Corporation holding) to conquer the European market. Designed from the ground up to European standards and without regard to cost, the original look was created by former Mini chief designer Gert Hildebrand. The premiere of the Qoros brand took place at the Geneva Motor Show 2013.

Qoros 3 at the Geneva Motor Show (2013)

Unfortunately, the partners did not have enough money or enthusiasm to move forward. Sales in Europe did not really start, and in China, Qoros cars were met coldly. And already at the beginning of 2018, the partners sold a controlling stake (51%) to the Chinese diversified holding Baoneng Group from Shenzhen. A year later, the new owners increased their stake to 63%, leaving Chery with 25% and Kenon, through its subsidiary Quantum, with 12%.

Baoneng's stay plans were Napoleonic. In 2018, management pledged to invest 10 billion yuan ($1.58 billion) a year in Baoneng Motor's newly established automotive division and bring up to 26 new, mostly electric, models to market within five years. Chief designer James Hope was fired from Chery, and one of Geely's top managers took over. In the spring of 2020, even the plant of the former Changan PSA JV in Shenzhen was bought (they produced DS cars for China there), and in the autumn of the same year a new plant was built in the city of Xi'an and was solemnly launched., Designed to produce 200,000 cars a year.

At first, Koros sales rose to 62 thousand cars a year thanks to the inexpensive Model Young crossover, that is, Chery Tiggo 7 was supplied. But Chery quickly withdrew permission to release this model, and in 2019 sales again collapsed to 23 thousand. In 2020, the Qoros 7 SUV, based on the original Koros, was released, as well as a hybrid version of the Qoros 3 sedan, but the drop in demand only intensified – then less than 14 thousand cars were sold. The entire huge Baoneng holding was in debt and began restructuring, so in the spring of 2021, the production of Qoros cars was stopped, and in the summer they disappeared from the market.

Baoneng's first prototypes

It seemed that the story was over, but the other day Baoneng Motor suddenly remembered itself. Photos of electric vehicles have been published, and judging by the body kit and many details, these are no longer concepts, but samples prepared for mass production. They are created on a single platform with a traction battery of their own design, and the already mentioned James Hope worked on their design. The first model is the Qoros 6 sedan (in the title photo), and nothing is known about it yet.

And the second model is called Bao GX5 and has “off-road” elements in the design. The Bao brand is conceived for more prestigious models and is higher than Koros in the corporate rating, and plans are underway to create three models at once. It is alleged that the Bao GX5 SUV will be able to drive up to 800 km on a single charge and accelerate to “hundreds” in 4.5 seconds, and the equipment includes adaptive cruise control. While this is all the information, the full presentation will be made soon.