Roewe’s Jiayue 07 has entered pre-sales in China, combining a range-extender powertrain with a Doubao artificial intelligence (AI) assistant that can plan trips and operate cabin functions.
The five-seat SUV from SAIC Motor offers claimed electric ranges of 220km or 320km under China’s Light-duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC). Maximum combined range is quoted at 1,480km.
The longer-range version has a 44.2kWh battery, offering a CLTC range of 320km.
An engine extends the driving range when needed. Roewe said the energy-management system uses navigation information, road conditions and driving habits to manage its operation.
Much of the company’s attention, however, is on what occupants can ask the car to do.
Developed with ByteDance’s Volcano Engine, the Doubao assistant is designed to interpret conversational requests without requiring users to spell out each command. Roewe said it can select destinations, plan routes and adjust the air-conditioning, seats and ambient lighting.
A request for a family day out, for instance, can include limits on driving time alongside requirements for children, parking and meals. The assistant is intended to consider these together when proposing a destination. Passengers can ask for changes along the way.
The system also connects with the Doubao phone app and supports restaurant bookings through Meituan. A dedicated cabin display gives the assistant animated facial expressions during conversations.
Driving assistance comes from Momenta’s R7 system. Doubao interprets the request and handles the conversation; Momenta provides the driving and parking assistance. Roewe describes the technology as driver assistance, rather than a system that replaces the driver.
The company’s announcement makes broader claims about the car’s ability to carry out an entire journey from a spoken request. It provides no independent test results establishing how reliably those functions work in daily traffic.
Designed under Jozef Kaban, the Jiayue 07 measures 4,900mm long and 1,910mm wide, with a 2,908mm wheelbase. The announcement lists a height of 1,753mm.
Cabin equipment includes heated and ventilated front seats with 16-point massage, electrically reclining rear seats and a refrigerator that can also keep food warm. Folding the rear seats creates a claimed 2.3-metre-long flat area.
Some advertised features are restricted to particular versions, according to Roewe’s product page.
