Lingbox BOX

The Lingbox BOX is the debut micro fully electric passenger car under the Lingbox marque by Jiangsu Jimai New Energy Vehicle Industry Co., Ltd. Rolling off the production line in April 2020, it primarily targets the urban short-distance runabout market. The 2025 model year arrived in September 2024, offering two range variants of 140 km and 205 km, with pricing ranging from RM37,900 to RM41,900.

Vehicle Overview

Positioned as an A00-segment micro EV, the brand is owned by Jimai New Energy (a cross-sector venture by Jinpeng). Core selling points include a generous 2,455 mm wheelbase, a 5-door 4-seater layout, an operating range of up to 205 km, and an accessible entry price of RM37,900. The 2025 lineup comprises two variants: the 140km Qingning Edition (RM37,900) and the 205km Tiancheng Edition (RM41,900).

Design Language

Measuring 3,584 mm long, 1,475 mm wide, and 1,666 mm tall with a 2,455 mm wheelbase, the city car adopts a 5-door, 4-seater hatchback body style. Up front, it sports a closed-off grille flanked by rounded projector headlamps and a full-width lower apron, delivering a soft and cute aesthetic. The side profile features a floating roof design, contrasting black side mirrors and door handles, and 14-inch wheels fitted as standard. Circular tail lamps at the rear mirror the front fascia, complemented by a rear spoiler and a high-mounted third brake light. Inside, the cabin gets a two-tone colour scheme, complete with a floating digital instrument cluster, a touchscreen infotainment head unit (9-inch on the base trim, 10.1-inch on the higher variant), and a rotary gear selector.

Powertrain and Range

The entire range is powered by a front-mounted permanent magnet synchronous electric motor producing 30 kW (41 PS) and 95 Nm of peak torque, with a rated top speed of 101 km/h. On the battery front, the 140 km variant carries a 14.72 kWh CALB lithium iron phosphate (LFP) pack, while the 205 km version is fitted with a 19.008 kWh pack. Neither supports DC fast charging, and regular AC charging takes between 8 and 11 hours. Rated energy consumption sits at roughly 9.4 to 10.8 kWh per 100 km. The chassis rides on front MacPherson struts and a rear torsion beam setup, paired with front disc and rear drum brakes alongside a mechanical handbrake.

Features and Safety

Kit-wise, the 140km Qingning Edition comes standard with LED headlamps, a 9-inch infotainment display, a reverse camera, vanity mirrors for driver and front passenger, and a 2-speaker sound system; the 205km Tiancheng Edition switches to halogen headlamps and steps up to a 10.1-inch central screen. Both variants support telematics with remote mobile app functions (door lock/unlock, climate control, and charging status) via 4G connectivity.

Safety is where the car falls drastically short: neither variant comes fitted with any airbags. Standard safety kit across the board is limited to ABS with EBD, a tyre pressure monitoring system, rear parking sensors, and rear ISOFIX child-seat anchors. Critical active safety systems like Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Brake Assist are completely omitted across the range.

Market Performance

The Lingbox BOX squares up against segment stalwarts like the Wuling Hongguang MINIEV and Changan Lumin. In July 2024, it shifted just 768 units, reflecting its relatively weak brand traction. Its main strengths remain the sheer practicality of a 2,455 mm wheelbase and a 5-door, 4-seater configuration. However, the complete omission of airbags is a deal-breaker, and a starting price of RM37,900 fails to offer compelling value against rivals (the Wuling Hongguang MINIEV starts from RM32,800 and offers optional airbags).

All in all, the Lingbox BOX is an entry-level city runabout banking heavily on cabin space and 5-door versatility. However, its safety package is shockingly bare—going entirely airbag-less puts it dead last among its peers. Unless you are completely indifferent to vehicle safety and bound by an extremely tight budget, it is hard to recommend; buyers are far better served looking at rivals like the Wuling Hongguang MINIEV or Changan Lumin, which offer proper airbag protection.