- The updated Electra E5 has a starting price of RMB 169,900 ($23,640), and Buick promises zero self-ignition for the model.
- In the event of a single cell thermal runaway, the battery pack will not catch fire or explode within two weeks, far exceeding the new national standard of two hours.
General Motors’ Buick brand has launched the updated Electra E5 pure electric SUV (sport utility vehicle) in China, with safety as one of its biggest selling points.
The updated Electra E5 officially went on sale today, offering three variants with guide prices of RMB 169,900 ($23,640), RMB 179,900, and RMB 189,900.
Buick is offering discounts for the model, reducing the starting prices of the three variants to RMB 149,900, RMB 159,900, and RMB 169,900, respectively.
Buick guarantees zero spontaneous combustion for the model. If the vehicle catches fire due to a quality issue within one year of delivery, Buick will compensate the owner with a brand-new vehicle of the same specifications.
This makes Buick the first brand in the Chinese market to make such a commitment, at a time when concerns about electric vehicle (EV) safety continue to deter some potential consumers.
Buick claims that the Electra E5 surpasses China’s new national standards for battery safety, which will take effect in July 2026.
After a single battery cell experiences thermal runaway, the battery pack will not catch fire or explode within two weeks, far exceeding the new national standard’s two-hour threshold, it said.
The Electra E5 is a mid-size SUV with dimensions of 4,893 mm in length, 1,905 mm in width, and 1,684 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,954 mm.
It offers battery pack options including a 65-kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack, a 68.4-kWh ternary lithium battery, and a 76.8-kWh LFP battery pack, with CLTC ranges of 515 km, 545 km, and 620 km, respectively.
The Electra E5 can charge from 30 percent to 80 percent in as little as 19 minutes.
The vehicle is built on General Motors’ Ultium 2.0 platform, featuring a front-mounted single motor with a maximum power output of 180 kW and a maximum torque of 330 Nm.
It can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in as little as 7.5 seconds and supports a top speed of 180 km/h.
The Electra E5 was first launched in China on April 13, 2023, marking Buick’s first electric vehicle based on the Ultium platform.
($1 = RMB 7.1882)
Buick has adjusted its plan as a new model, codenamed NDLB, nears production, deciding to add EREV options to its original BEV-only offerings, according to local media.
