Low-cost electric family SUV price war heats up: 2025 Skyworth BE11 price and specs locked in as rival to Geely EX5 and Leapmotor C10

Incoming Chinese automaker Skyworth has revealed its BE11 mid-size electric SUV at the Everything Electric show in Sydney, complete with pricing and specifications for a late 2025 arrival.

The BE11 was previously intended to launch as the 'Skywell EVA 5' however the local importer EV Automotive changed the name to match what it is called in China in order to sync up more closely with Skyworth internationally.

The mid-sizer arrives with a single long-range battery option and front-mounted electric motor in two trim levels priced at $48,990 for the base Comfort grade, or $62,990 for the top-spec Luxury.

An 86kWh nickel-manganese cobalt (NMC) battery pack allows a 489km WLTP-certified driving range for both variants, while the electric motor delivers 150kW/320Nm.

The BE11 can charge at a rate of 11kW on AC (for a 10 to 100 per cent charge time in around seven hours), while on a fast DC charger it can top-up at a peak rate of 84kW meaning a 10-80 per cent charge in roughly an hour.

Standard equipment on the base Comfort includes 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a 12.8-inch central touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a wireless phone charger, a digital instrument cluster, a 360-degree parking camera, grey Alcantara seat trim, a leather-bound steering wheel, six-way power adjust for the front seats with heating and ventilation, memory settings with lumbar support for the driver, auto heated and folding side mirrors, a dimming rear-vision mirror, keyless entry and push-start ignition.

Additionally, the BE11 scores an internal 220-volt household power outlet, and the capability to support vehicle-to-load from its charging port.

The top-spec Luxury grade adds a panoramic sunroof with closing shade, 20-inch alloy wheels, a larger 15-inch touchscreen, mirror memory settings linked to the driver seat profiles with an auto-dipping function when placed in reverse, ambient interior lighting, rear privacy glass, LED reading lights for rear passengers, alternate white or brown trim options for the interior, as well as upgraded PM2.5 filtration for the climate control.

All variants get auto emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, traffic sign recognition, and driver monitoring as part of the BE11’s active safety suite.

Speaking to CarsGuide, EV Automotive’s Chief Executive Jack Puzin said the BE11 should be with customers “within six months”, putting arrival timing in the third quarter of 2025.

Puzin says what separates the BE11 from its rivals is simplicity.

“Where we are is electric made easy” he said.

“It’s easier to use, the buttons are where they belong, it’s not super complicated, the idea is you can just get in and drive it. It has indicator stalks, it’s got straightforward screens, it’s got buttons for the seats.”

He also pointed out that it comes with a relatively large battery compared to other lower-cost mid-size SUV rivals.

Puzin explained that Skyworth cars would follow a more traditional dealer distributed model rather than a direct-to-consumer model which it was initially pursuing. He said ownership terms were yet to be revealed, although the brand was “working on something innovative".

“It’s not heard of in the industry in terms of warranty. The ink hasn’t dried yet, so I can’t talk about it.”

According to Puzin, an ANCAP rating for the BE11 “is on its way” and local calibration testing for ADAS systems is currently underway with local testers sending feedback to China. Additionally, the vehicles are capable of over-the-air connectivity and updates, but details on these features are not yet locked in.

Beyond the BE11, EV Automotive is also keen to expand its passenger car range, primarily with the Q hatchback and next-generation light-commercial van.

Currently EV Automotive sells the EC11 electric high-roof van in both crew and cargo forms, and also plans to add an EC1 light-commercial truck in three forms to its line-up in the near future.

The EC1 is imported not from Skyworth, but from a separate brand, Shanxi Victory Automobile, and is planned to be offered in single cab, dual cab, and van forms, all purely electric.