The all-electric Aiways U5 SUV has driven its way to multiple victories and prestigious awards this month, taking on three long-range endurance challenges across Europe and winning the Riviera Electric Challenge (14-16 September). 37 vehicles from 11 established brands took on the Riviera Electric Challenge driving 200km from Cagnes-sure-Mer, France, through Italy’s mountain scenery and ending in iconic Monaco. Aiways was the only Chinese manufacturer to enter the all-electric challenge, now in its seventh year. Live energy consumption data was tracked for each vehicle along the demanding route, and the Aiways U5 SUV outperformed the competition to take the top spot with French former rally driver Bernard Darniche behind the wheel alongside teammate Philippe Dupuy.
The former European Rally champion commented: “I have won many races and taking part in the Riviera Electric Challenge was a chance to experience the future of racing. It was great to test my competitive skills in a new way where winning was not about being fastest. The Aiways U5 SUV was a responsive and easy drive, and it was an absolute pleasure to be behind the wheel of this electric car for the 200km journey. We were not leading at the end of day one, but through consistent driving on day two, we secured first place in the Aiways U5 SUV.”
The weekend just gone; three Aiways U5 SUVs also participated in the famous E-Cannonball endurance drive. This prestigious event among the electric vehicle community attracted celebrity drivers and over 70 teams who had to cover the distance between Berlin and Munich, accumulating points for kilometers covered, number of charging stops and average energy consumption. One Aiways U5 SUV was ably driven by model and influencer Nicola Cavanis, who took her 860,000 followers along for the ride keeping them updated with live conversations during the entire trip. She stated: “It was great fun, and I enjoyed the drive in an all-electric car very much. Our team did well, we went smoothly between the challenges, and I got a lot of great feedback from my followers.” The second Aiways U5 SUV was entered by Aiways’ German retail partner and the main event sponsor, Euronics. The third Aiways U5 SUV was entered by an enthusiastic and loyal customer team. Both corporate teams and the private one arrived ahead of the time limit without any problems reaching the finish line in Munich.
Earlier in September, three electric U5 SUVs successfully completed the ED1000 endurance event, journeying 1,000km across Germany from Berlin via Bielefeld and Fulda to Munich in less than 14 hours – proving that electric mobility is a viable option for day-to-day and long-distance driving. Aiways entered two vehicles which finished only an hour apart. The third Aiways U5 SUV was entered by Aiways’ German service and mobility partner A.T.U who provided technical support for all brands participating in the endurance drive.
At the wheel of one Aiways U5 during the ED1000 was Dr Alex Klose, Executive Vice-President of Overseas Operations at Aiways. He commented, “We are very pleased with the consistent and impressive performance from the U5 during these long-distance tests, particularly because we competed against and outperformed many vehicles from mainstream car brands.
“Our ‘September success’ has been a fantastic illustration of the U5’s capabilities and its suitability as the main family car. Aiways’ future in Europe looks strong and we’re excited about participating in, and winning, more endurance races in the coming years.”
The positive and consistent performance from the Aiways U5 SUV across multiple long-range events this summer demonstrates the vehicle’s highly competitive real-world range of 330km – 82.5% of the official WLTP figure. With Level 2 autonomy and a suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including active cruise control, lane departure warning, blind spot warning and the emergency braking assistant, every journey in U5 comes with safety and peace of mind.
With a starting price of $41,746*The Aiways U5 SUV offers a compelling price-to-range ratio and can charge from 30% to 80% in just 27 minutes, making zero-emissions driving a welcome choice for any adventure.
