The Bestune E01 is the first all-electric mid-size SUV under the FAW Bestune brand and the pioneer model of its new energy E-series line-up. Built on the FME dedicated EV platform forward-developed by FAW Bestune, the vehicle was officially launched at the Beijing Auto Show on 26 September 2020, offering 5 variants with post-subsidy recommended retail prices ranging from RM196,800 to RM228,800. In its variant line-up, the Space Curvature Edition serves as the flagship variant, carrying an official recommended retail price of RM218,800. As a trailblazer for the Bestune brand in the new energy vehicle space, the E01 strategically sidestepped the intensely contested compact SUV segment at the time, entering instead as a mid-size SUV with a strong focus on styling, technology, and smart connectivity to carve out a foothold in the mainstream electrification shift. At launch, the E01 came with the "All-New All-E" ownership privilege package, encompassing a three-year zero-interest financing scheme, lifetime EV battery and drive component warranty, lifetime free basic servicing, and lifetime complimentary roadside assistance.
The exterior of the E01 carries forward Bestune's "Light and Shadow Aesthetics" design philosophy, blending Eastern design cues with EV-specific styling elements. Up front, it features a closed-off "interactive digital raindrop grille" capable of producing dynamic "breathing" light sequences via LED strips across different scenarios. The vertical light-guide LED daytime running lights (DRLs) connect to a three-section full-width light bar across the front fascia, paired with a trapezoidal honeycomb lower bumper to create a distinctly layered front profile. Along the sides, a dual waistline is complemented by sleek glasshouse styling and blacked-out pillars for a floating-roof effect, while 19-inch semi-closed aero alloy wheels and flush pop-out door handles further accentuate its EV identity. Around the back, the full-width LED tail lamps wrap around the rear quarters for strong visual recognition, accompanied by faux exhaust blue accent rings on the rear bumper to emphasize its zero-emission powertrain with a sporty touch. In terms of body dimensions, it measures 4,639 mm in length, 1,880 mm in width, and 1,640 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,810 mm (some sources note 2,840 mm) — a wheelbase spanning the boundary between compact and mid-size SUVs that exceeds even the Highlander, affording generous cabin space. The interior adopts an "enveloping, slim, lightweight, and floating" design concept, using horizontal minimalist lines and a split-tier dashboard layout to cultivate a wraparound cabin ambiance, tastefully trimmed in contrasting colour palettes with extensive soft-touch materials.
The Bestune E01 is powered by a front-mounted single permanent magnet synchronous motor manufactured by CRRC, churning out a maximum power of 140 kW (around 190 PS) and a peak torque of 320 Nm. Mated to a single-speed reduction gear transmission, it utilizes a front-wheel-drive (FWD) layout. The official 0-100 km/h acceleration time is 9.0 seconds, on to a top speed of 170 km/h. Power delivery is calibrated for smooth, linear everyday driving: off-the-line throttle response in D mode is progressive and unhurried, while ECO mode exhibits a subtle hesitation reminiscent of small-displacement turbocharged engines before the 320 Nm of torque kicks in to provide brisk acceleration between 0 and 60 km/h.
Energy is stored in a 61.34 kWh CATL-sourced NCM 811 ternary lithium battery pack boasting an energy density of 165.26 Wh/kg. This delivers an NEDC-rated all-electric range of 450 km. The system supports both DC fast charging and AC slow charging; DC fast charging takes approximately 30 minutes to charge up to 80% (around 20% to 80%), whereas AC slow charging requires roughly 9.5 hours. The vehicle also features a 220V Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) external power supply function. While official power consumption figures per 100 km were not released, its overall energy efficiency under NEDC testing was on par with the 2020 segment benchmark. First private non-commercial owners are backed by an unlimited-mileage/unlimited-year warranty on the EV high-voltage battery and powertrain components.
Underpinned by the bespoke FME pure electric platform, the E01 features an all-independent suspension setup with front MacPherson struts and a rear multi-link system — a relatively high-spec configuration in its class. Paired with a BorgWarner gear reducer and Bosch dampers, the chassis strikes a fine balance between ride comfort and handling stability. Braking is managed by Bosch's latest-generation iBooster (electromechanical brake booster), which works in tandem with the regenerative braking system to recover up to 20% of kinetic energy, generating deceleration drag of up to -0.3g. It offers three drive modes: Normal, ECO, and E-pedal (single-pedal drive mode); ECO mode delivers more energy-efficient throttle mapping, while the E-pedal mode significantly reduces the need to step on the brake pedal in daily driving. Steering is handled by an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system. With an approach angle of 20° and a departure angle of 27°, ground clearance parameters easily cope with urban roads and light suburban terrain. Professional test-drive feedback indicates that cabin NVH is well suppressed below 80 km/h, though tyre roar from the eco-compound Linglong tyres becomes slightly noticeable at highway cruising speeds.
The cockpit centres around a high-tech digital experience featuring a three-screen layout: dual 12.3-inch displays for the digital instrument cluster and central infotainment touchscreen form a dual-screen arrangement, while climate control settings are integrated into an 8-inch touch panel below, creating a stepped "7"-shaped layout. The infotainment runs on the D-life 5.0 in-car operating system, supporting facial recognition, driver fatigue monitoring, travel footprint logging, AR navigation, energy consumption analytics, and Over-the-Air (OTA) updates. The system also integrates Bestune's signature YOMI 3D holographic smart control system (an AI virtual avatar), which works with an infrared camera on the inner A-pillar to monitor driver alertness in real time and initiate interactive prompts. Audio is handled by a premium Danish Jamo sound system featuring 13 speakers, a 500W standalone amplifier, and JIS surround sound processing to create an immersive "mobile concert hall" acoustic environment.
In terms of comfort and convenience amenities, the E01 comes fitted with an active fragrance system, 256-colour ambient lighting, a powered tailgate with height memory, and an innovative AR projected tailgate release (which triggers the tailgate to open simply by stepping on a projected light icon on the ground). The seats feature an ergonomic leather-and-fabric upholstery combination, and the rear bench supports 60:40 split-folding to expand boot capacity. Connected car features include Wi-Fi hotspot capability, remote smartphone telematics, and voice command. Physical buttons inside the cabin are kept to a minimum, with most onboard operations handled via the touchscreens and touch panels.
In terms of active safety and driver assistance, the Bestune E01 is equipped with a comprehensive Bosch ADAS hardware suite. Perception sensors include an inner A-pillar infrared camera alongside multiple millimetre-wave radars and ultrasonic sensors. Rated officially as a Level 2 advanced driver assistance system, standard or variant-dependent ADAS features include full-speed Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Automated Parking Assist, Driver Fatigue Monitoring, Door Opening Warning (DOW), and Low-Speed Pedestrian Warning. In addition, the vehicle is equipped with a 540° panoramic camera system (including a transparent chassis view), providing clear visual awareness around and beneath the car during reversing and low-speed manoeuvres.
Standard active safety features across the range include Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), Traction Control System (TCS), and Electronic Stability Control (ESC). Passive safety is well-appointed with front dual airbags, front side airbags, and front and rear curtain airbags, alongside a standard Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), ISOFIX child seat anchors, and seatbelt reminders. The body shell utilizes a lightweight safety cage structure with over 65% high-strength steel content, ensuring solid crash safety performance while keeping kerb weight at 1,810 kg.
As FAW Bestune's strategic spearhead in the all-electric market, the Bestune E01 initially drew considerable attention with its distinct value positioning in the RM200,000 price bracket, but its showroom performance fell drastically short of expectations. Market sales data reveals that the E01 was quickly sidelined: in 2023, full-year sales stood at just 1 unit; across most of 2024, monthly registrations hovered at around 1 unit; cumulative sales throughout 2025 remained negligible, and by 2026, the model had essentially ceased commercial sales at the end of its lifecycle. In early 2024, select dealerships rolled out stock-clearance discounts of up to RM80,000, briefly bringing the net car price of the entry-level variant down to RM116,800, though this still failed to reignite market demand.
Professional Media and User Reviews
At launch, motoring media widely expressed reservations about the E01 entering the mid-size EV market with a 450 km range in an era shifting toward "600 km+", noting that its range "offered little competitive edge against rivals boasting 550+ km", while giving positive marks to standout features such as the dual 12.3-inch displays, holographic YOMI assistant, Jamo sound system, and AR projected tailgate. In terms of customer feedback, early owners praised the generous rear legroom afforded by the long 2,810 mm wheelbase, distinctive exterior lighting signatures, and comfortable chassis tuning. Criticisms, on the other hand, centered heavily on the noticeable range degradation in cold weather, the 30-minute DC fast charging time that quickly lost its competitive edge, an infotainment interface that felt less responsive than those of newer EV startups, and the brand's limited after-sales service network.
Historical Significance Summary
From a strategic standpoint, the E01 held significant importance for FAW Bestune's technical development and product expansion: it served as Bestune's first product built on the bespoke FME pure electric platform, validating its engineering capabilities in ground-up EV platform development; digital interactive innovations like D-life 5.0 and the YOMI 3D holographic assistant also laid the groundwork for future smart vehicle iterations. Commercially, however, the RM200,000 to RM230,000 mid-size EV segment was packed with formidable rivals (such as the Chery Ant, Weltmeister EX6, and Roewe MARVEL X); a late market launch, slow battery updates, and limited brand awareness in the new energy domain caused it to rapidly fade from mainstream consumer consideration. As of 2026, while the Bestune E01 technically remains listed in select official vehicle catalogues, it has essentially become a discontinued novelty. Its residual value on the used-car market has dropped to around 30% of its original recommended retail price after five years, though it still offers some value-for-money appeal for bargain hunters specifically looking for a high-spec, low-mileage EV. On the whole, the Bestune E01 represents a pioneer model that was richly equipped in vehicle specifications but poorly timed in terms of battery range strategy and market cadence, clearly illustrating the complex hurdles between technical development, brand perception, and real-world market demand faced by legacy Chinese automakers during the dawn of their EV transition in 2020.
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