The Skywell BE11 is an all-electric mid-size SUV under Skywell, built by Skywell New Energy Automobile Group, which was founded by Skyworth Group founder Huang Hongsheng. Sold domestically in China as the "Skywell EV6", it adopts the BE11 nameplate across overseas markets, serving as the brand's maiden strategic model in the global new energy passenger vehicle arena.
The BE11 first broke cover in official photos in 2020 under the "Tianmei Auto" moniker, with an initial launch slated for Q3. Following a brand restructuring, it officially entered the UK market in late 2024 before expanding into Australia, Europe, and other overseas markets. In China, the Skywell EV6 carries an official price tag ranging from RM139,800 to RM329,800. Overseas pricing varies by market: in the UK, the Standard Range starts from £31,990 (approx. RM290,000) with the Long Range priced at around £36,000; in Australia, the Comfort variant starts at A$48,990 (approx. RM223,800), while the Luxury variant goes for A$52,990 (approx. RM242,000).
In terms of dimensions, the BE11 measures 4,720 mm long, 1,908 mm wide, and 1,696 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,800 mm. Positioned as a standard five-seater mid-size pure electric SUV, its primary rivals include mainstream EV contenders such as the Tesla Model Y and Kia EV5.
The exterior styling of the BE11 leans towards the conservative side. The front end features a closed-off grille flanked by matrix LED headlights with Y-shaped daytime running lights (DRLs), complemented by L-shaped metallic bumper garnishes that inject a touch of high-tech flair. The lower bumper carries an aggressive, sporty design, with sizeable fog lamp housings paired with gloss black trim pieces to enhance visual depth. Round back, it sports the trendy full-width LED taillight assembly paired with vertical triangular lighting clusters, offering high nighttime recognisability. Along the flanks, clean character lines flow from the front fender all the way to the taillights, matched with large five-spoke alloy wheels to deliver an athletic, forward-leaning stance.
Inside, the BE11 adopts an all-black interior theme highlighted by chrome accents to create a contemporary, youthful vibe. The dashboard is anchored by a floating central touchscreen, accompanied by a full digital instrument cluster, a three-spoke steering wheel, and a rotary gear selector, delivering a tech-forward look. The air conditioning vents feature a full-width recessed layout, while the dashboard is dressed in brushed-finish panels and chrome trim strips to elevate cabin ambience. The range-topping variant can be optioned with a larger 15.6-inch touchscreen for a more commanding visual effect. Overseas variants of the BE11 are offered in five exterior shades: Eclipse Black, Polar Blue, Deep Space Grey, Northern Blue, and Arctic White.
The BE11 is driven across the range by a front-mounted single permanent magnet synchronous motor in a front-wheel-drive (FWD) configuration. The electric motor delivers a maximum output of 150 kW (approx. 204 PS) and 320 Nm of peak torque, completing the 0-100 km/h sprint in 9.6 seconds en route to a top speed of 150 km/h.
In terms of battery specifications, the BE11 offers two ternary lithium-ion battery pack capacities: 72 kWh and 86 kWh. Under WLTP test cycles, the Standard Range (72 kWh) delivers an electric driving range of roughly 400 km, whereas the Long Range (86 kWh) is rated at approximately 489 km. In its domestic market, the Skywell EV6 is available in multiple variants offering CLTC-rated ranges between 430 km and 620 km, with the 520 km variant tuned to a higher output of 250 kW (approx. 340 PS) for punchier performance. Energy consumption is rated at approximately 15.6 to 17.0 kWh/100 km.
For DC fast charging, the overseas BE11 supports a peak rate of 80 kW, taking roughly 45 to 70 minutes to charge from 20% to 80% SoC, which lags behind many class rivals in charging speed. AC charging is rated at 6.6 kW or 11 kW depending on the market variant, requiring around 7 to 11 hours for a full recharge. The vehicle also supports Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) reverse power supply functionality.
Underneath, the BE11 utilises an all-round independent suspension setup featuring front MacPherson struts and a rear multi-link arrangement. While an independent suspension layout theoretically promises decent ride comfort and stability, its actual tuning performance leaves much to be desired. Independent test drives noted that the BE11 suffers from noticeable body bounce over minor road undulations, with the multi-link rear suspension failing to cushion vibrations effectively, resulting in an unrefined ride quality.
Steering duties are handled by an electric power steering (EPS) system; however, motoring reviews noted that the steering wheel feels overly light and devoid of road feedback, accompanied by pronounced understeer when entering bends. Braking is provided by ventilated discs up front and solid discs at the rear, shod with 235/50 R19 tyres. Minimum ground clearance stands at 159 mm. The overall chassis setup is oriented towards everyday comfort, though body roll is noticeably pronounced during high-speed cornering or sudden lane changes, meaning spirited handling is not its forte.
The entire BE11 range is strictly front-wheel drive, with no all-wheel-drive (AWD) variant on offer. Approach and departure angles have not been officially disclosed, with the vehicle positioned primarily as an urban family crossover.
The BE11's cabin centres around its floating infotainment display; overseas base variants come standard with a 12.8-inch touchscreen, while higher-spec trims offer an optional 15.6-inch unit. The digital instrument cluster measures 12.3 inches. Powering the infotainment is Skyworth's proprietary Skylink smart connectivity system, which supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, Bluetooth hands-free, USB audio input, and DAB+ digital radio. The 2026 model year also adds a 360-degree surround-view monitor. However, several overseas media reviews highlighted that the touchscreen UI logic is rather muddled, lacking handy shortcuts and customisable options, and was criticised as an unintuitive infotainment system.
In terms of convenience features, overseas-spec BE11 models come standard with 19-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, keyless entry with push-button start, a Qi wireless charging pad, and dual-zone automatic climate control. The front seats feature six-way power adjustment (with memory function and lumbar support) as well as heating and ventilation functions, while the steering wheel is wrapped in leather. The rear seats offer split-folding capability, with rear air-con vents fitted as standard. Selected variants also add a powered tailgate with hands-free access, an eight-speaker sound system, and other amenities.
Boot space stands at 467 litres in standard configuration, which expands to 1,141 litres once the rear seats are folded flat. The cabin is also equipped with a 220V household power outlet and multiple USB-C charging ports for enhanced daily usability.
Safety assessments for the BE11 reveal stark discrepancies. In the Chinese market, the Skywell EV6 underwent C-NCAP crash testing and managed only a one-star rating, scoring zero out of 16 points in the side pole impact test. Conversely, the manufacturer claims the model has obtained European WVTA type approval and achieved a five-star rating in CATARC testing, featuring a 16-ring high-strength cage design with hot-formed boron steel and ultra-high-strength steel accounting for nearly 80%, yielding a torsional rigidity of 27,000 Nm/deg.
On the active safety front, early BE11 units homologated in the EU prior to July 2024 were not equipped with ADAS systems. The 2026 model year BE11 addresses this shortfall by introducing an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) suite for the first time, adding Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Blind Spot Detection (BSD), and Lane Keep Assist (LKA), with select functions developed and calibrated on UK roads. Additionally, the vehicle provides a 360-degree camera, Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR), Driver Fatigue Monitoring, and a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). As of mid-2026, the BE11 has yet to be crash-tested by Australasian ANCAP.
In terms of passive safety, the BE11 is fitted with a multi-airbag setup comprising dual front airbags as well as front and rear curtain airbags, alongside ISOFIX child seat anchor points. Standard electronic safety aids include ABS, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), and Electronic Stability Control (ESC). Nonetheless, given the Chinese-spec EV6's dismal C-NCAP score, even with structural and equipment revisions on export units, a notable gap remains when compared against five-star rated mainstream competitors.
Since arriving in the UK in late 2024 and Australia in 2025, market response to the Skywell BE11 has been rather lukewarm. In the UK, AUTOCAR awarded it a modest two-star rating, pointing out its mediocre efficiency, unrefined ride quality, sluggish steering response, and unintuitive infotainment setup. Top Gear went further, labelling it "the worst electric car money can buy", criticising its lacklustre 0-62 mph acceleration (approx. 9.6 seconds), lack of low-speed punch between 0 and 30 mph, inadequate high-speed overtaking confidence, an 80 kW peak DC charging speed that requires around 1 hour and 10 minutes for a 0-80% charge, and significant real-world range drop compared to WLTP figures.
In its home market, sales of the Skywell EV6 have likewise struggled, registering only 461 units in April 2024. In early 2026, in response to overseas feedback, Skywell implemented a "comprehensive overhaul" on the BE11, introducing an ADAS suite, heated and ventilated front seats, a power-adjustable driver's seat, additional USB-C ports, a 360-degree camera, an optional 15.6-inch central screen, and reducing UK pricing by £5,000. As a result, the UK price for the Standard Range fell to £31,990, while the Long Range was adjusted to around £36,000.
In Australia, the BE11 made its local premiere at the Everything Electric exhibition, distributed by importer EV Automotive. Starting at A$48,990, the BE11 is priced above fellow Chinese entries such as the Geely EX5 (approx. A$40,490 to A$44,490) and Leapmotor C10 (approx. A$45,888 to A$49,888), though it undercuts mainstream contenders like the Tesla Model Y (from approx. A$58,900) and Kia EV5 (approx. A$56,770). Despite being priced below primary rivals, the BE11 continues to face headwinds in brand awareness and overall product competitiveness. Exported abroad, the BE11 pairs with the Skywell EC11 electric commercial van to form Skywell's dual-track passenger and commercial vehicle offensive in overseas new energy markets.
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