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Modern Auto is a technology company focused on intelligent electric vehicle R&D and manufacturing, founded in January 2019. The brand positions itself as a trendy pure electric vehicle manufacturer for young consumers, with founder and CEO Liu Xin. The brand name "Modern" is derived from the concept of "Modern Life," implying the fusion of advanced electrification technology, humanised intelligent technology, and trendy aesthetics to create unique pure electric vehicles for post‑80s and post‑90s consumers who pursue fashion.
Modern Auto is headquartered in Shanghai, with its production base located in the Yancheng Economic and Technological Development Zone, Jiangsu Province. Construction began in 2019, with a planned annual capacity of 50,000 units. The brand is held by Jiangsu Jiuzhou Investment Group Co., Ltd., whose main businesses include real estate development, commercial property operation, and venture capital. Shareholders also include Shanghai Jiachi Enterprise Management Consulting Co., Ltd., Yancheng Yanxin Shanda New Energy Vehicle Industry Investment Fund, and other capital partners. However, since its inception, the brand has not received large‑scale financing from external professional venture capital institutions, with funding primarily relying on controlling shareholder Jiangsu Jiuzhou Group and other local capital. Company registration records show that Modern Auto Co., Ltd. completed business registration on January 24, 2019, with legal representative Liu Xin, and its business scope covers vehicle sales, parts sales, and import/export of goods and technology.
At its founding, Modern Auto did not hold independent new energy passenger vehicle production qualifications. Its first model was manufactured under an OEM arrangement by Beijing Automobile Manufacturing Co., Ltd. in Shandong (not BAIC Group, but the parent company of the BJ212 model). The brand's management team came primarily from traditional OEMs—CEO Liu Xin previously worked at SAIC Group's e‑commerce platform CheXiangJia; CTO Li Yuan previously worked in R&D at SAIC Group, BAIC Group, and other automakers; and sales head Gu Fengchao also previously held positions at CheXiangJia.
Modern Auto's development can be divided into three stages: brand and model launch, market cooling and overseas expansion, and subsequent model progression.
Brand Launch and First Model Delivery (2019–2021). In January 2019, Modern Auto Co., Ltd. was registered. In April of that year, the R&D project for the first product, the MD11 (Modern in), began, with R&D work concluding in September; in December, the MD12 project was officially launched, and Modern Auto (Yancheng) Co., Ltd. and an overseas Australian subsidiary were established. In November 2020, the first mass‑production model, the Modern in, debuted at the Yancheng plant. In February 2021, the Modern in appeared on the MIIT's 341st batch of new vehicle product announcements, taking a key step toward compliant sales. In May of that year, the Modern in began pre‑sales (pre‑sale price 125,800–145,800 RMB), and in November, nationwide deliveries commenced, with cities including Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Nanjing, and Suzhou following with license plate registrations. This stage—from company establishment to mass‑production delivery—took approximately 25 months.
Market Cooling and Overseas Breakthrough (2022–2024). After the Modern in launched, domestic market response was muted, with limited brand marketing and scarce offline sales channels. In July 2022, the second model, the MD12, rolled off the Yancheng line, built on the brand's self‑developed OMEGA platform. Meanwhile, the brand shifted its market focus overseas from 2023 onward, successively expanding into Central/North America, South America, the Middle East, Central Asia, and other markets. That same year, the Modern in obtained EU WVTA Whole Vehicle Type Approval certification, removing compliance barriers for the European market. In January 2024, the first batch of export orders shipped to Mexico; in March, the first batch of exports to Hungary officially departed. By the end of 2024, Modern Auto had achieved exports to over ten countries, including Mexico, Israel, Italy, Hungary, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic.
Product Line Continuity and Platform Deepening (2025–Present). Facing intensifying domestic NEV competition, Modern Auto invested more resources in overseas business promotion and product adaptation development. Domestic on‑sale products remained based on the 2023 Modern in spectrum, with two Deluxe models added in April 2025, but core product recognition and dealer network development did not achieve significant improvement. Although the MD12 rolled off in 2022, the company has not announced formal market launch and delivery timelines, with the mass‑production schedule significantly delayed.
Modern Auto's current product line is relatively focused, with mass‑production and R&D models primarily based on the MO Platform and OMEGA Platform.
Modern in. Modern Auto's first mass‑production model and currently the only model to have achieved market delivery. The Modern in is a compact pure electric crossover SUV, with a CUV style blending hatchback, SUV, and coupe design language. It measures 4,473×1,822×1,550 mm with a 2,710 mm wheelbase, a base boot volume of 407 litres, expandable to 1,160 litres with the rear seats folded. The front features "M"‑shaped through‑type LED "Cat Ear" headlights, while the rear uses a through‑type light cluster with a sporty spoiler. Inside, it is equipped with a 14.6‑inch floating centre screen (supplied by JD Solution) and a column shift mechanism; the front seats are fully connected to increase horizontal space, and the roof features a 1.8‑square‑metre panoramic sunroof. All models come standard with a liquid‑cooling/heating constant‑temperature battery system, 0.5‑hour fast charging to 80%, and slow charging in 7–7.5 hours. All models are equipped with ESC and six airbags, with Elite and above trims adding front and rear head air curtains. All models support L1‑level intelligent assisted driving, including ACC, AEB, forward collision warning, and lane departure warning.
The Modern in is available in 420 km and 610 km NEDC range versions. The 420 km version uses a 53 kWh ternary lithium battery, with a motor delivering 120 kW and 280 N·m of torque, and a kerb weight of approximately 1,535 kg. The 610 km version is equipped with an 80 kWh battery pack. Prices historically ranged from 125,800 to 199,800 RMB. As of early 2026, the Modern in still uses the 2023 model as its standard on‑sale version, with eight configurations covering the 420 km (Fashion, Fashion Upgrade, Classic Pro, Deluxe) and 610 km (Fashion, Elite, Travel Plus, Deluxe) variants.
MD12. Modern Auto's second model, based on the OMEGA Platform, rolled off the line in July 2022. The MD12 is positioned as a mid‑size compact SUV, measuring 4,605×1,840×1,630 mm, with a new high‑efficiency electric drive system, range exceeding 600 km, and 30‑minute fast charging. It features the MD Pilot 3.0 intelligent driving assistance system and a next‑generation software control system, with preliminary development on solid‑state battery technology. Magao Intelligent Driving Technology Co., Ltd.—a joint venture between Hunan University and Modern Auto—provided intelligent driving support for the MD12, covering TBOX, OTA, Wireless Battery Management System (WBMS), and L4+ autonomous driving pre‑research capabilities. As of early 2026, the MD12 has not yet entered formal delivery.
OMEGA Platform. Modern Auto's self‑developed core model platform; both the Modern in and MD12 are developed on this platform. The OMEGA Platform offers high flexible expansion capability, compatible with different wheelbase and power configurations.
Modern Auto's overall sales in the Chinese domestic passenger car market are at an extremely low level, with the brand's presence in China highly limited. In 2021, Modern in terminal sales were only 202 units. In Q1 2022, terminal deliveries fell further to just 12 units. After 2024, third‑party data platforms no longer updated Modern Auto sales statistics, and the brand's domestic retail terminal effectively entered a long‑term stagnation.
The main reasons for the brand's domestic market coldness include: weak marketing investment, severely insufficient offline channel development (almost no independent C‑end consumer stores or experience centres); extremely low public brand awareness; and the OEM model and lightweight design also prompted some consumer concerns about vehicle structural safety. Meanwhile, the domestic NEV market entered a high‑involution phase from 2023 onward, with intensifying price and configuration competition, making it extremely difficult for brands on the market margins to build a stable user base.
In contrast to its domestic coldness, Modern Auto has gained market access and shipments in overseas markets. The brand has passed EU WVTA Whole Vehicle Type Approval certification and obtained E‑mark certification for 12 parts categories and over 40 ECE type test compliance qualifications. From 2023 to 2024, it successively completed bulk exports to over ten countries, including Mexico, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic. Modern Auto's exports are primarily the Modern in, which has gained access to certain European markets through its cost‑performance and compact SUV dimensions, becoming one of the selectable options for many emerging markets in the NEV introduction phase.
Modern Auto's core technology strategy follows a "self‑R&D main, external collaboration upgrade" path, forming preliminary experience in vehicle lightweighting and overseas market compliance certification.
Vehicle Lightweight Technology. Represented by the Modern in, Modern Auto's lightweight design is relatively prominent. The 53 kWh battery entry version has a kerb weight of approximately 1,535 kg, contrasting sharply with some joint‑venture compact pure electric models. This lightweight performance benefits range extension and power consumption reduction under normal load conditions.
OMEGA Vehicle Platform. Modern Auto's self‑developed architecture platform has supported the R&D of both the Modern in and MD12. The platform supports mechanical structure diversification and enables development of differently positioned models in the future.
Battery Technology. The Modern in uses ternary lithium batteries supplied by AVIC Lithium (now CALB), with a liquid‑cooling/heating constant‑temperature BMS to enhance environmental adaptability. On the MD12 project, the brand has shown preliminary solid‑state battery R&D, aiming to achieve a breakthrough 1,000‑km range solution.
Electric Drive Technology. The Modern in is equipped with a three‑in‑one electric drive unit delivering 120 kW and 280 N·m of torque, with energy consumption of approximately 13.9–14.4 kWh per 100 km. Core components include a 3‑core MCU chip and a high‑efficiency integrated smart vehicle control unit, providing 1‑ms power cut protection and high‑current BMS balancing capability.
MD Pilot Intelligent Driving System. The MD12 will be equipped with the MD Pilot 3.0 intelligent driving assistance system, featuring a new software control architecture to enhance product competitiveness.
Smart Cockpit Technology. The Modern in features a 14.6‑inch floating centre touchscreen, powered by an NXP i.MX8 series high‑performance chip, with an iFLYTEK AI voice assistant for voice interaction and AC control. Higher‑spec models offer a 9‑inch co‑pilot entertainment screen. Magao Intelligent Driving Technology Co., Ltd. is co‑developing next‑gen 5G smart cockpit and autonomous driving technology, including TBOX, OTA, and cloud platform connectivity, which will support the MD12 and future models.
Overseas markets are Modern Auto's most important current growth source. Since 2023, the brand has rapidly promoted its globalisation strategy, entering multiple regions including North America, South America, the Middle East, Central Asia, and Europe.
The Modern in has successfully obtained EU WVTA Whole Vehicle Type Approval—one of the world's most stringent automotive safety and emissions access systems. The brand has completed E‑mark certification for 12 parts categories and over 40 ECE type tests, meeting EU road safety and environmental emissions standards. As of 2024, the brand has achieved complete vehicle exports to over ten countries, including Mexico, Israel, Italy, Hungary, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic. In Hungary, the first batch of Modern Autos departed the Yancheng plant in March 2024 and entered the local market; in Mexico, first‑batch export deliveries were completed in January 2024. In addition to vehicle exports, Modern Auto is simultaneously promoting KD assembly and spare parts support to establish complete service and supply capabilities in export markets.
Modern Auto's future path will revolve around three dimensions: overseas market expansion, technology upgrade, and product line perfection.
On the overseas front, the brand will continue to use EU WVTA certification as its passport, deepening export networks and service systems across Europe, the Middle East, and South America. By expanding KD plants and targeting B‑end government procurement channels, it hopes to maintain an annual export scale of thousands of units in narrow adaptability markets.
On the technology front, the maturity of the MD12 project will determine whether the brand can launch a second mass‑production model after 2026. If the MD12—equipped with solid‑state batteries and the MD Pilot 3.0 system—can reach mass production, it could help the brand expand its competitiveness in range and intelligence. Modern Auto and Hunan University have jointly established Magao Intelligent Driving Technology Co., Ltd., integrating university research resources to continue frontier development in wireless battery management, 5G smart cockpits, and L4+ autonomous driving, with some results expected to feature on future models.
On the product line front, if the brand can complete MD12 scaled production and market introduction in 2026–2027, it will break the "single‑model‑rules" situation and hope to form differentiated configurations in both domestic and overseas markets. Modern Auto added Deluxe and other new versions to the existing Modern in in April 2026 to extend its lifecycle, but given that the domestic dealer system is nearly stagnant, terminal sales growth still relies on overseas orders.
Overall, Modern Auto is currently in the stage of moving from "product trial" to "overseas breakthrough and local survival test." In the highly competitive Chinese NEV market and the intensifying global electrification race, whether the brand can ensure sustainable funding, control product safety and quality reputation, and accelerate MD12 mass production will determine whether it can seize a sustainable opportunity in the fierce market elimination contest.
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