Appliance maker Skyworth's first model to go on sale July 27

Chinese appliance maker Skyworth announced on Thursday that its first model, the midsize SUV Skyworth ET5, will go on sale on July 27.

The ET5 will include five models priced at RMB 152,800 ($19,438) – RMB 198,800 after subsidies, the company said.

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With dimensions of 4,698/1,908/1,696mm and a wheelbase of 2,800mm, the ET5 will be powered by an electric motor with a maximum power of 204hp and a maximum torque of 320Nm.

It will be equipped with a nickel-cobalt-manganese ternary lithium battery pack with an energy density of 170Wh/kg and a power battery capacity of 71.98kWh in upper trim level, capable of a combined NEDC range of 520km.

ET5 offers 12.3-inch full LCD instrumentation and a 12.8-inch full LCD center display, and is equipped with Skyworth's Skylink intelligent network system.

ET5 also comes standard with ABS, EBD, TCS, automatic parking, steep hill descent, LED headlights, keyless start and dual front airbags.

Skyworth officially announced its entry into car-making space on April 27 and unveiled its ambitious plans to become a top 10 global electric car company, said company founder Huang Hongsheng in an interview with jiemian.com.

Huang, who is also chairman of Skywell New Energy Automobile Group and founder of Skywell Auto, announced on April 27 that Skywell Auto had changed its name to Skyworth Auto and unveiled the Skyworth ET5 model from the previously available Skywell ET5.

In 2019, Skyworth made it to No. 2 in China behind BYD in pure electric vehicles such as buses, logistics vehicles, electric heavy-duty trucks, terminal tractors and mining trucks, Huang said.

The company previously raised Series A funding, and Skywell will file for an IPO in Shanghai to get money to build cars, Huang said.

Skyworth has 300 million household users in China, and familiarity and trust in the brand is the company's advantage over other car companies, Huang said.

"We are participating in a marathon compared to other car companies that are explosive in sprints," Huang said.