When it comes to electric vehicles, the Chinese automotive industry has proven to be a considerable thorn in the side of European car brands in recent years. Due to the nation’s expansive industrial footprint, it has largely developed all the electric propulsion components for foreign brands, which means it has most of the experience and know-how of how to develop them cheaply, and to a good standard. It has put these learnings to good use over the last decade, developing its own auto industry to the point where it’s now taking on the established brands in Europe.
Their expansive knowledge of EV development means they have been able to produce the tech faster, cheaper, and to a superior level than their foreign rivals. Chinese marque Tianjin is now continuing its push by introducing its eye-grabbing EV sports car in Europe, a model that was co-developed by a smartphone manufacturer.
The SC01 Was Developed To Show EVs Can Be Engaging Drivers’ Cars
Red JGAT SC01 in tunnel from frontTianjin Gongjiangpai Auto Technology
The story of the SC01 begins in 2022, when it was first unveiled in an online launch to Chinese audiences. The machine was developed by a company called Tianjin Gongjiangpai Auto Technology, which has ties with the likes of fellow auto manufacturer and smartphone producer Xiaomi. The latter is a substantial investor in the former, which wanted to build a car that showed EVs could be light and engaging.
2025-Present JMEV SC01
Powertrain
Dual motor electric
Transmission
Single-speed auto
Power
429 hp
Torque
413 lb-ft
0-60 mph
2.9 seconds
Also working with another Chinese automaker named JMEV, the SC01 underwent a further three years of development before finally being unleashed on the Chinese market in early 2025. The car, which features styling inspired by Italian sports cars like the Lancia Stratos, which the SC01 most closely resembles, was also extremely cheap. It launched with a base price of 229,800 yuan, which translates to just $31,000. This was despite it coming with a dual-motor powertrain that provided the SC01 with a commanding 429 hp.
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The SC01 Is Now Making Its Way To Europe
Orange JGAT SC01 nose viewTianjin Gongjiangpai Auto Technology
After a year on sale in its native China, the SC01 is now being offered to European gearheads. This is happening via a company called SC01 Europe, which is set to build a limited run of 1,000 cars, with the vehicles being produced locally in Italy. While it won’t retain its ultra-low Chinese base price, it’ll still be relatively affordable given its performance level at the equivalent of $71k when it eventually goes on sale.
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Lightness Was A Key Focus When Designing The SC01
Red JGAT SC01 with chassisTianjin Gongjiangpai Auto Technology
TGAT was determined to show that EVs could be as light as traditional sports cars such as those made by Lotus and Mazda, and to do this, it developed a bespoke tubular chassis. The design meant it afforded the body extra rigidity while keeping weight down, with the finished article tipping the scales at a shade over 3,000 pounds. This is ultra-impressive, given that its fellow Chinese sports car rival, the MG Cyberster, weighs well north of 4,000 pounds.
There was more to this lightness than the chassis though, as the SC01 is also provided with wheels made from both aluminum and magnesium, as well as a stripped-out cockpit. There are no advanced infotainment screens visible here, nor the kind of luxury you’d expect from an upper-market sports car such as a Ferrari or Porsche. The SC01 is equipped only with the absolute basics, such as air conditioning. As a result of the lack of any kind of touchscreen control center, the SC01 utilizes these things called physical buttons, which are a much-missed commodity in many modern vehicles.
The SC01 Has Plenty Of Go-Faster Juice
Blue JGAT SC01 rear endTianjin Gongjiangpai Auto Technology
Happily, just because the SC01 is very light doesn’t mean TGAT has skimped on the level of power it produces. The 429 hp produced by the electric motors can get it to 60 mph in a blazing 2.9 seconds, according to the company, while the Chinese Light-Vehicle Test Cycle reports that the vehicle can achieve a peak range of 311 miles. This is at normal speeds though, and doesn’t take into account putting it through its paces.
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Given that it comes with double wishbone suspension front and rear, as well as a formidable braking system headlined by six-piston front and four-piston rear calipers, this will be difficult to refrain from. TGAT further ensured it’d be responsive in your hands by making it small, with its 98.5-inch wheelbase putting it in the same realm as that of the Porsche 718 Cayman. Whether TGAT has produced a light and responsive EV that can take the fight to established ICE models remains to be seen, but it certainly seems to have all the ingredients needed to succeed. From a pure driving standpoint, at least.
EV Sports Cars Have Historically Been Too Heavy And Soulless To Succeed
JGAT SC01 front cockpit viewTianjin Gongjiangpai Auto Technology
The SC01 is looking to overcome one of the biggest traditional drawbacks with EV sports cars: their weight. While EVs have fewer moving parts than an ICE model, their electric powertrains, which consist of various battery packs and at least one electric motor, bring a hell of a lot of weight to the table. These components have been getting smaller and more powerful as technology develops though, and this is part of the reason the SCO1 is much lighter than those that have come before, alongside the other weight-saving methods.
The added fat has the effect of not only blunting outright performance, but also making the car feel less responsive and agile on the road. Since this is the chief job a sports car needs to nail, EVs have struggled to match ICE’s in this regard. In addition to this, EVs also have a shortfall of involvement due to the lack of any manually-usable gearbox, be it a full manual or semi-automatic unit, and the absence of engine noise. The loss of these elements robs these cars, which are built to thrill their occupants, of most of the adrenaline-umping potential that buyers crave. The SC01 at least takes care of one of these detriments, but the latter two will still prove a stiff challenge when comparing it to traditional ICE options.
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The SC01 Is Full Of Pedigree
The Chinese-made Xiaomi SU7 Ultra has more than 1,500 hp.Xiaomi
While it’ll have its challenges establishing itself as a pukka sports car option, the SC01 at least wades into battle with some great performance pedigree behind it. The machine has the know-how of Xiaomi behind it after all, the company having recently woken up the world to its presence via the wild SU7 Ultra EV sports sedan. With the optional track package installed, which brings a more aggressive aero and suspension package among other upgrades, the Ultra managed to claim a new outright EV lap record around the fearsome Nürburgring Nordschleife in Germany.
2025-Present Xiaomi SU7 Ultra
Powertrain
Tri motor electric
Transmission
Single-speed auto
Power
1,548 hp
Torque
1,305 lb-ft
0-60 mph
1.9 seconds
To further hammer home its impact, the SU7 Ultra is now the fastest four-door sedan ever to lap the venue, which is some feat given it costs the equivalent of just $75,000. This is only a third of the cost of the previous record holder, the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT.
These Chinese Weapons Won’t Be Reaching The US Anytime Soon
Xiaomi SU7 racingXiaomi
However, while these cars are beginning to reach European audiences, they won’t be available for interested US gearheads for the foreseeable future. The US has a blanket ban on all Chinese-built vehicles being brought across the Atlantic in the interests of espionage, and there is no inclination that this approach will change anytime soon. For now then, US drivers will need to book some tickets to Europe to sample China’s answer to the lightweight sports car, or high-performance sports sedan, for that matter.
Sources: JMEV.
