JuneYao Airlines’ JY Air electric sedan was launched in Thailand ahead of its domestic market debut. It offers an 8-year warranty, a range of up to 520 km and a starting price of 899,000 baht (25,200 USD). Previously, JY Air’s manufacturer suspended production in China twice.
– Advertisement –
Briefly about JuneYao Airlines’ automotive business
JuneYao Airlines is one of the largest domestic airlines, founded in 2005. It also offers international flights to Europe, Asia, the Australian region and more. The airline entered the automotive segment in 2023 by establishing the JuneYao Automobile business. To begin vehicle development and production, JuneYao Airlines acquired the financially troubled startup Yudo.
We remind you that Yudo was launched in 2018 as a low-cost EV maker in China. The company raised money and built its car factory with an annual production volume of 100,000 units. However, from 2018 to 2022, Yudo sold fewer than 20,000 cars. Yudo stopped production twice. The first time was in 2019. In 2022, the failed car manufacturer stopped car production completely.
– Advertisement –
At that time, China’s JuneYao Airlines wanted to enter the new business segment of EV production. As a result, it acquired assets from Yudo in 2022. In 2023, JuneYao Airlines founded the JuneYao Automobile. Later, the company presented its first model, the JuneYao Air sedan. It was said to be launched in China with a price of around 200,000 Yuan (27,500 USD).
However, the actual car has still not reached the domestic market. Instead, JuneYao launched it internationally as the JY Air. EV-friendly Thailand became the first stop for this brand.
JY Air launched in Thailand
The JY Air was introduced to local buyers at the Thailand Motor Expo 2024. It is a compact sedan with an aerodynamic shape. It has a short hood line that flows smoothly into the A-pillars. The JY Air has a sleek roofline, retractable door handles and striking LED headlights at the front. The JY Air has dimensions of 4550/1860/1515 mm with a wheelbase of 2800 mm. The drag coefficient is 0.23 Cd.
– Advertisement –
The cabin of the JY Air features a large main screen, powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8155 chip. It uses the Crystal OS with the 3D cockpit system and supports the L2+ driving assistance system. Back to the interior, it has a two-spoke steering wheel, a pair of wireless charging pads, a large 2-square-meter sunroof and five seats. The JY Air has a space utilization rate of 78%.
The JY Air has a single electric motor for 150 kW (201 hp) and 250 Nm in the rear axle. This EV accelerates to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds. The top speed of this sedan is 170 km/h. It features two Shenxing LFP battery options from the world’s largest battery manufacturer CATL: a 51 kWh pack for a NEDC range of 430 km and a 64 kWh battery for a range of 520 km. The first battery supports DC charging of 70 kW. The second package can be charged with 138 kW. The JY Air for Thailand has the CCS Combo charging port.
The JY Air is offered in two trim levels in Thailand. The entry-level model is called Standard. It is priced at 899,000 baht (25,200 USD). The top model car costs 1,018,000 baht (29,500 USD). JuneYao Automobile offers various gifts to the car’s first owners. They include a 3-year JuneYao Air Gold membership, free tickets, 1 year of free insurance, a free AC charger and an 8-year car warranty.
JY Air wants to become a hot seller in Thailand as its parent company plans to establish a local assembly by 2025. However, the company will face strong competition here. To be clear, the BYD Atto 3 crossover starts at 859,900 baht (24,950 USD). Moreover, JuneYao Air will face the problem of low awareness since it is a new brand.
Other JuneYao plans
It is unknown whether JuneYao wants to sell its cars in a highly competitive Chinese market. However, this automaker will soon explore other international countries. One of them is Kazakhstan. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, JuneYao Automobile is in discussions with the local government about assembly under the local brand.