The Chinese electric sports car SC01 will reach the European market and will be produced in Italy

The Chinese startup Tianjin Gongjiangpai Auto Technology (TGAT) has just unveiled its new compact, lightweight electric sports car aimed at pure, hardcore driving. This model, already on sale in China since last April under the name JMEV 01, is also set to reach the European market, although here it will be known as the SC01.

The project started in September 2022, although after its initial debut it was put on hold for several years. The company has now shared the first official images of the vehicle destined for Europe, which has generated considerable excitement among electric sports car enthusiasts.

For those unfamiliar with it, TGAT is an emerging startup backed financially by Xiaomi, specialising in vehicles focused on enjoying the pleasure of driving. The SC01 thus adopts a philosophy similar to that of classic lightweight sports cars, with a highly rigid tubular chassis, an aluminium body and a total weight of less than 1,400 kg.

Key technical specifications

In its Chinese version, this sports car features a dual electric motor setup with 320 kW of combined power and 560 Nm of torque. Its sporting character is beyond question, capable of reaching 100 km/h from a standstill in just 2.9 seconds, with its top speed limited to 200 km/h. The vehicle also carries an NMC battery pack with a 60 kWh capacity supplied by CALB, located behind the front seats to optimise weight distribution. Thanks to this battery pack, the manufacturer promises a range slightly above 500 km under the optimistic Chinese CLTC homologation cycle.

The vehicle’s compact dimensions, measuring 4.10 metres long, 1.83 metres wide and just 1.17 metres high, with a wheelbase of 2.50 metres, give it an agile profile with the proportions of a sports two-seater. Its interior, meanwhile, prioritises simplicity and the connection with the driver. To that end it features sports seats, a steering wheel trimmed in Alcantara, a physical gear lever and analogue controls, avoiding the proliferation of large screens so common in vehicles today.

For the European version, development is carried out independently of the Chinese project. Nevertheless, it has already been confirmed that it will also feature all-wheel drive and the same 0–100 km/h acceleration time of 2.9 seconds, while keeping its weight below 1,400 kg. Production is planned to take place in Italy, for sale in certain specific European markets where this type of vehicle is best valued.

The SC01 will also be a limited-edition vehicle, since production will be capped at just one thousand units in total. The number of customers who will be able to park this electric sports car in their garage will be smaller, however, as some of these one thousand units will be reserved for use in motorsport competitions.