Chinese airline JyneYao launched the JY Air electric sedan in the Middle Kingdom with a starting price of 147,800 yuan (20,500 USD). This vehicle was launched in Thailand last year with a starting price of 25,200 USD. This vehicle boasts a range of up to 530 km, a body length of 4550 mm, and a peak power of up to 150 kW (201 hp).

JuneYao Airlines is one of China’s biggest domestic operators founded in 2005. The company entered the automotive segment in 2023 by acquiring the financially troubled Yudo startup. JuneYao Airlines launched the car-focused branch of JuneYao Automobile to develop and manufacture electric cars for global markets. The brand’s first model, the JY Air, was launched in Thailand last year. Interestingly, this model entered China only six months later.

JY Air launched in China

The JY Air aligns with the car launched in Thailand in December 2024. A single major difference is the steering wheel on the left side. Otherwise, it is the same compact sedan with a sleek appearance. The JY Air adopts a closed front end with a trapeze-shaped air intake, hidden door handles, distinguishing LED headlights, and a single taillight strip. The dimensions of this EV are 4550/1860/1515 mm and have a wheelbase of 2800 mm. The drag coefficient reaches 0.23 Cd.

The JY Air’s interior adopts a Crystal OS-powered 15.6-inch touchscreen. It also adopts the Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8155 chip. The JY Air is a five-seat sedan with a large 2-square-meter sunroof and a space utilization rate of 78%. JuneYao says that the car’s interior is inspired by the business class cabin of airlines. The JY Air adopts a gear shifter behind a two-spoke steering wheel, a wireless phone charging pad in the center tunnel, and sporty seats with integrated headrests.

The entry-level JY Air adopts the UAES-made TZ180XS0951 synchronous permanent magnet electric motor with a peak power of 147 kW (197 hp) and a torque of 250 Nm in the rear axle. This e-motor is powered by a 51.2 kWh battery from Rept Battero. The car speeds up to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds. Its CLTC range reaches 435 km. The car can be charged with 70 kW DC.

The top-trim JY Air has the same electric motor with a power output boosted to 150 kW (201 hp). However, this variant adopts a bigger LFP pack for 64.1 kWh, suitable for 530 km of CLTC range. This modification can handle 90 kW DC charging.  

JY Air pricing and competition

The JY Air is available for purchase in China for 147,800 – 159,800 yuan (20,500 – 22,150 USD). Its price turned into the biggest drawback of the vehicle. For clarity, the larger Xpeng Mona M03 and the recently launched Dongfeng Nissan N7 sedans start at 119,800 yuan (16,600 USD) in China. The FAW Volkswagen ID.3 hatchback starts at 129,800 yuan (17,985 USD). With its pricing, JY Air jumped into the segment of cars such as BYD Seal, Geely Galaxy E8, and other hi-tech models.

It seems that the Chinese market is too competitive for JY Air. However, JuneYao actively explores overseas sales channels for this model. Last year, JuneYao was reported to be in talks with the Kazakhstan government among the local assembly of JY Air. It seems that overseas markets are the only chance for the JuneYao Automobile to survive.