What is the background of Aiways Auto?

[OJohnny]

Aiways Auto is a Chinese automotive brand. More information about Aiways Auto is as follows: 1. Introduction: Aiways Auto is an intelligent electric vehicle company driving the evolution of the automotive industry. It is engaged in the technological research and development, and product development of new energy vehicles and components; technical development, transfer, consultation, and services in the fields of automotive technology, information technology, and biotechnology; sales of automotive parts and mechanical equipment, automobile maintenance, and import/export of goods and technologies. 2. Body Dimensions: Aiways Auto currently has only one model series, the Aiways U5, with body dimensions as follows: length 4680mm, width 1865mm, height 1700mm, and a wheelbase of 2800mm.

[DeRafael]

I'm a longtime car enthusiast and remember that AIWAYS was founded in 2017 as a new energy vehicle startup, originally named AIWAYS Yiwei. Founder Fu Qiang previously held management positions at Shanghai Volkswagen and later had a successful career at Volvo China, making him a seasoned veteran in the automotive industry. They're quite interesting - headquartered in Shanghai but built their factory in Shangrao, Jiangxi, and even set up an R&D center in Germany. Last year, I test-drove their U5 in Hainan; its claimed range was 503 km but it actually delivered just over 400 km in real-world conditions, and the central control screen was quite user-friendly. Recently, I heard they're working on methanol hydrogen fuel cells, a technological path not widely adopted by other manufacturers, making them something of a disruptor in the field.

[VonGabrielle]

We've discussed this brand in our car enthusiast group, and its biggest feature is dual-track development. Last year at the auto show, they simultaneously exhibited a pure electric SUV and a methanol-hydrogen fuel sports car. The on-site engineer said the methanol car can be refueled in just three minutes and runs even farther than electric vehicles. Their overseas market expansion is particularly aggressive, with the U5 model visible in over ten European countries, and they've even established a subsidiary in Germany itself. But to be honest, the sales of their charging version don't rank in China, while it's said they sold over 2,000 units in the EU last year. Friends who like to try new things might want to keep an eye on their new model U6, which has a pretty cool coupe design.

[SanAlaina]

This brand's approach is quite unconventional. While traditional automakers focus solely on either fuel or pure electric, Aiways insists on walking on two legs: using CATL battery packs for EVs and methanol reforming technology for fuel cell vehicles. Their global team layout is even more exaggerated – design in Munich, AI development in Silicon Valley, while their Shangrao factory supports flexible production of both powertrain systems. During my test drive, I noticed their vehicle system can monitor fuel conversion efficiency in real-time, with remarkably smooth transitions during driving. The only downside is their sparse dealership network – just over thirty stores in the entire East China region.