JAC brand Yiwei plans EV with semi-solid battery cells from WeLion
Yiwei was founded in 2023, replacing the previous joint venture brand Sehol from JAC and Volkswagen Anhui. It made first headlines in February, announcing that it would be the first manufacturer to deliver small electric cars with a sodium-ion battery on board.
As CN EV Post reports, citing an official WeLion press release, Yiwei is preparing to integrate another innovative battery technology. The JAC brand is said to be flirting with semi-solid-state cylindrical cells in the 4695 format. It is bringing WeLion on board, a battery manufacturer founded in 2016 and based in Beijing, which has so far become known primarily for its ties to Nio: In July 2023, the Chinese battery specialist delivered its first semi-solid-state battery cells to Nio. In April, the OEM said it started mass-producing the first 150-kWh battery packs based on these cells.
With Yiwei, WeLion will now develop an electric car that draws its power from cylindrical semi-solid-state battery cells in the 4695 format. The vehicle will be based on the second generation of Yiwei’s all-electric DI platform, CN EV Post quotes from the official statement. The partners want to kick off series production as early as 2025.
A brief history of the brand: as mentioned, Yiwei will inherit the joint venture brand Sehol from JAC and Volkswagen Anhui. Volkswagen Anhui is the former joint venture between JAC and Volkswagen. After the German carmaker was allowed to acquire a majority stake in the joint venture, JAC was removed from the name and the name of the province where the headquarters are located was added instead.
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