From Runways to Roadways: Chinese Airline Ventures into EV Market with $20K Sedan
In a surprising cross-industry move that exemplifies China’s booming electric vehicle landscape, one of China’s largest domestic airline operators has taken flight into the automotive sector with an affordable electric sedan.
Janyao Airlines, founded in 2005, officially entered the automotive industry in 2023 by acquiring struggling car brand Udo, according to Car News China. Through its newly established automotive division, Junya Automobile, the airline has launched the JY Air electric sedan with a starting price of approximately $20,500.
“When you visit China, you walk around the streets and think ‘I’ve never seen that before, I’ve never seen that before. What car is that?’” explains Sam Evans of The Electric Viking YouTube channel, highlighting the overwhelming diversity in China’s EV market. “There are literally 90 electric car brands in the country.”
The JY Air represents an intriguing entry in this crowded field. Already available in Thailand at approximately $25,000, the sedan offers a CLTC-rated range of 530 kilometers (approximately 420 km under Europe’s WLTP standard). Dimensionally, the vehicle measures 4,550 mm in length, 1,860 mm in width, and 1,515 mm in height—slightly smaller than a Tesla Model 3.
Power comes from what appears to be a BOD motor producing 150 kW (201 horsepower), while the vehicle’s aerodynamic profile boasts a claimed drag coefficient of 0.23. Inside, the JY Air features a 15.6-inch touchscreen powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip and what the manufacturer calls a “crystal operating system.”
Energy storage comes via a 51.2 kWh battery pack from Rept Biro, a relatively obscure manufacturer that claims to be “a top five global energy storage cell shipment [provider] in 2024,” according to their corporate materials. The vehicle offers DC fast charging at 70 kW and can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 7.9 seconds.
The airline’s automotive ambitions come amid extraordinary growth in China’s EV sector. “Seven major Chinese automakers sold between 35 to 100% more cars in 2024 than they did in 2023,” notes Evans. “Chinese electric car sales have just come in… and they are pretty damn staggering.”
This expansion isn’t limited to domestic markets. With the JY Air already available in Thailand, Evans suggests the right-hand drive model could potentially reach other markets, including Australia.
However, the JY Air faces stiff competition in its price segment. The XPeng Mona M03, a larger liftback model, starts at just $16,600, while Volkswagen’s ID.3 is priced around $18,000 in China, according to Car News China figures cited by Evans.
China’s dominance in the global automotive market continues to grow, with Chinese manufacturers reportedly accounting for 42% of global car sales in November 2023, a figure Evans believes was “probably even higher” in December.
As established automakers worldwide face increasing pressure from Chinese competition, this airline’s venture into electric vehicles demonstrates how China’s EV revolution continues to attract new and unexpected players, further accelerating the country’s automotive ambitions.
