Baidu- and Geely-backed JiYue brand unveils ROBO X EV that goes 0-100 km/h in under 1.9 sec
JiYue, a Chinese EV brand focused on delivering all-electric “robocars” to the masses, has unveiled its latest model, and it’s quite a deviation from its previous EVs—but in the best way. Earlier today, JiYue launched the ROBO X supercar, designed for high-speed racing. By high speed, we mean 0-100 km/h acceleration in under 1.9 seconds. My mouth is watering.
JiYue has only existed since 2021, when parent tech company Baidu announced it was expanding from software development into physical EV production, joining forces with multinational automotive manufacturer Geely.
The new “robotic EV” marque initially launched as JIDU with $300 million in startup capital before garnering an additional $400 million in Series A funding, led by Baidu, in January 2022.
In August 2023, Geely took on a larger role in JIDU alongside a greater financial stake as the brand reimagined itself as JiYue, inheriting the JIDU logo and its flagship model, the 01 ROBOCAR.
In December 2023, Baidu and Geely unveiled a second model called the JiYue 07. It was born from JIDU’s ROBO-02 concept, which debuted in 2023 and was designed to compete against the Tesla Model 3 in China.
The 07 finally launched in China earlier this year with 545 miles of range. With an all-electric SUV and sedan on the market, JiYue has unveiled an exciting new entry in the form of a performance supercar called the ROBO X. Check it out:
JiYue’s new ROBO X EV is available for pre-order now
JiYue showcased its new ROBO X hypercar in front of the crowd at the 2024 Guangzhou Auto Show earlier today. Similar to previous models but with a unique spin, JiYue described the ROBO X as an AI smart-driving supercar that, for the first time, blends artificial intelligence and autonomous driving into a high-performance, race-ready EV.
When we say “high performance,” we mean a quad motor liquid-cooled drive system that can propel the ROBO X from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in under 1.9 seconds. JiYue called the new ROBO X a “performance beast” with “the perfect balance of excellent aerodynamic performance and high downforce.” JiYue CEO Joe Xia was even bolder in his statements about the ROBO X:
For the next 20 years, the design of supercars will bear the shadow of Robo X. This is the best design in the history of Chinese automobiles today, and it is a landmark presence.
Fighter-style airflow ducts bolster the EV’s aerodynamics, efficiency, and overall posture. Per JiYue, the two-seater ROBO X is expected to deliver a maximum range of over 650 km (404 miles).
The new supercar features falcon-wing doors, a carbon fiber integrated frame, and a professional racing HALO safety system offering 360° of support. The interior features an AI smart cockpit with SIMO real-time feedback to give drivers an immersive racing experience.
Furthermore, JiYue said the vehicle will utilize parent company Baidu’s Apollo self-driving technology, which could make it the first electric supercar to apply pure-vision ADAS technology that enables track-level autonomous driving.
Following today’s unveiling of the ROBO X, JiYue has officially opened up pre-orders in China for RMB 49,999 ($6,915). That said, reservation holders will need to be patient as JiYue shared that it doesn’t expect to begin mass production of the ROBO X until 2027.
What do you think? Will people be talking about the ROBO X for the next 20 years?
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Oil prices fell sharply Tuesday after President Donald Trump said China can keep buying oil from Iran, a sign that the U.S. is easing its maximum pressure campaign on the Islamic Republic in the wake of a ceasefire with Israel.
Global benchmark Brent fell $3.33, or 4.66%, to $68.15 per barrel by 10:18 a.m. ET. U.S. crude oil was last down $3.18, or 4.64%, to $65.33 a barrel. Prices closed 7% lower on Monday as the oil market bet that the conflict in the Middle East was winding down.
“China can now continue to purchase Oil from Iran,” Trump said in a post on his social media platform Truth Social. “Hopefully, they will be purchasing plenty from the U.S., also. It was my Great Honor to make this happen!”
Trump threatened in May to bar any country buying Iranian oil from doing business with the U.S. China purchases the vast majority of the 1.7 million barrels per day that Iran typically exports, according to data from Kpler.
Oil prices have tumbled to levels last seen before Israel started bombing Iran on June 13, as investors now believe the risk is low that a major supply disruption will occur the Middle East.
The U.S. decision to join Israel’s campaign and bomb three key nuclear sites in Iran over the weekend initially triggered fears that Tehran might try to choke off oil exports from the Persian Gulf in retaliation.
Instead, Tehran launched a missile attack on a U.S. airbase in Qatar that left no casualties, providing an offramp from further escalation. Trump announced a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran shortly afterward.
The ceasefire teetered on the brink of collapse early Tuesday as Trump accused both Iran and Israel of violating the agreement shortly after it went into effect. The president demanded that Jerusalem and Tehran adhere to the ceasefire, reserving unusually harsh words for Israel.
“I’m not happy with Israel,” Trump told reporters en route to a NATO summit in the Netherlands. “I’m not happy with Iran either but I’m really unhappy if Israel” continues its bombing campaign Tuesday.
Throughout the conflict, traders feared that Israel might target the 3.3 million bpd of crude oil that Iran produces, or that the Islamic Republic might lash out by targeting energy infrastructure in the Gulf nations, including Iraq.
Investors also watched if Iran would try to close the Strait of Hormuz linking the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The strait, used to transport 20% of the world’s crude, is a key route for Iranian and other Middle Eastern shipments, including Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Kuwait and Bahrain.
Toyota is still planning to build a three-row electric SUV in the US, but it won’t be in Indiana as planned. In a sudden shift of plans, Toyota will build it alongside a second electric three-row SUV as it consolidates EV production in the US.
Toyota to build two new three-row EV SUVs in the US
It has been over two years now since Toyota first unveiled the three-row electric SUV, which was expected to be a key part of its comeback efforts in the US EV market.
After funneling another $1.4 billion into its Princeton, Indiana, manufacturing plant last April, Toyota said it was preparing to assemble the larger SUV at the facility. The investment was also expected to go toward an assembly line for lithium-ion batteries, supplied from its new EV battery plant in North Carolina.
As part of its efforts to streamline production in the US, Toyota now plans to build the new EV in Kentucky, alongside a new Subaru three-row electric SUV.
According to AutoNews, Toyota said the move is designed to “improve manufacturing efficiencies and better serve customers based on market demand.”
“As previously announced, Toyota plans to produce two all-new, three-row battery electric SUVs in the US. Toyota will now assemble both vehicles at Toyota Kentucky,” the company explained in a statement.
Toyota plans to ramp up Grand Highlander production in Indiana with a new assembly line dedicated to the larger SUV.
Last year, Grand Highlander sales increased by nearly 50% in the US, as demand for the smaller Highlander fell by 47%. The trend has continued this year, with Grand Highlander sales up 2% through March, while Highlander sales have declined 62.5%.
Despite consolidating production, Toyota still has several new EVs set to launch in the US soon. Its updated bZ electric SUV (previously named the bZ4X) is arriving at US dealerships later this year.
Toyota upgraded it with an increased driving range, a much better style, and an added NACS port, allowing you to recharge at Tesla Superchargers.
Next year, the smaller Toyota C-HR and off-road bZ Woodland electric SUVs will arrive. By mid-2027, Toyota plans to have seven EVs at US dealerships, including under the Lexus brand. Subaru is set to introduce three new EVs by 2026, including the new Trailseeker SUV.
Toyota also announced plans to raise vehicle prices in the US this week. The price hikes will impact Toyota and Lexus brand models built after July 1.
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A new electric hub motor just dropped at Eurobike 2025, and it’s a big deal – mainly because it’s so small. Developed through a partnership between Moving Magnet Technologies (MMT), Swiss mechatronics firm Sonceboz, and French e-bike software company eBikeLabs, the new motor aims to set a new benchmark for premium urban e-bikes.
And based on the specs alone, it just might.
The motor delivers up to 70 Nm of torque, allows for regenerative braking, and has an impressive 22:1 gear ratio. It also includes a built-in torque sensor, allowing e-bikes employing the motor to take advantage of a more natural, responsive pedaling response.
Despite the high torque rating and built-in tech, the motor weighs under 2.5 kg (5.5 lbs), which is incredibly light for a high-torque hub motor, especially one designed for urban performance and connected tech features.
Designed for single-speed e-bikes and fully integrated with eBikeLabs’ eBikeOS software platform, this is the kind of system that manufacturers building the next wave of sleek, minimalist city e-bikes are likey to seek. And with regenerative braking, anti-theft immobilization, and smart ride customization all built in, it’s a feature-rich package in a surprisingly compact form factor.
Sonceboz, known for zero-defect manufacturing in the automotive world, is leading the industrialization process at its automated Swiss production facilities. According to the team, the motor is currently in B-sample testing with a yet-unnamed premium urban bike brand, with commercial availability targeted for early 2027.
“With this hub motor, Sonceboz, MMT, and eBikeLabs aim to set a new benchmark for premium urban bikes,” said Damien Wittwer, Division Director at Sonceboz. “Our mechatronics expertise ensures high-quality, reliable production ready for the most demanding brands. We don’t just build motors—we empower you to stand out in a market that demands smarter, quieter, more integrated urban mobility.”
The collaboration makes sense. MMT brings the motor design and electromagnetic magic, Sonceboz brings the industrial firepower, and eBikeLabs provides the software layer, eBikeOS, which adds real-time diagnostics, theft alerts, ride tracking, and personalized performance tuning. The system also includes a modular SP Connect mount for phones, allowing full app integration during rides.
On a personal note, I previously tested eBikeOS from eBikeLabs on a sample bike at Micromobility Europe and came away quite impressed with the performance.
This isn’t the first time eBikeLabs has pushed into the high-end e-bike space. Their software already powers the Virvolt 2000 motor used by Shwette’s cargo e-bikes, and their partnership network includes brands like Cowboy and Vefaa. But the new motor signals a tighter integration of motor hardware and software, engineered together from day one, a rarity in the increasingly fragmented e-bike market.
If the specs hold up and the industrial ramp goes smoothly, this could be one of the most important new components in the premium city e-bike world over the next few years. With anti-theft tech baked in, seamless app integration, and impressive torque in a tiny package, it’s exactly the kind of invisible innovation that makes a good e-bike feel like magic.
And if you’re at Eurobike this week, it’s on display in two locations, both in Hall 8, Booth I21 (with Sonceboz) and Hall 12.1, Booth A21 (with eBikeLabs). Definitely worth a closer look.
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