The Zhidou Rainbow is the first all-electric micro car launched by Zhidou Electric Vehicle Co., Ltd. following the brand's capital restructuring and strategic revival. Designed primarily for urban runabout duties and daily commutes, it targets younger buyers seeking personal expression. The model was officially launched on 18 April 2024 with an initial line-up of five variants: Chenxi, Chuqing, Yunshu, Muguang, and Caiyun, carrying official recommended retail prices ranging from RM31,900 to RM43,900, with subsidised retail prices spanning RM27,900 to RM39,900. In April 2025, Zhidou expanded the range with the upgraded Zhidou Rainbow Pro, priced between RM50,900 and RM60,900 officially, with retail prices ranging from RM38,900 to RM46,900. Marking Zhidou's comeback after years of silence, the Rainbow shoulders the strategic mission of re-establishing the brand in the micro EV segment, serving as a flagship product jointly driven by Geely Auto Group, Aima Electric Vehicle chairman Zhang Jian, and original founder Bao Wenguang following the corporate restructuring.
The Zhidou Rainbow adopts a compact and playful exterior styling language, dominated by soft, approachable contours. The front fascia features a closed-off grille, with the charging port neatly concealed behind the central emblem. The smoked headlamp clusters integrate Y-shaped daytime running lights (DRLs) with projector lenses, giving the car a distinctively quirky expression. Along the sides, the profile is clean and uncluttered, sporting blacked-out B- and C-pillars for a floating-roof effect, complemented by aero-optimised low-drag wheels. The rear styling mirrors the front with matching Y-shaped tail lamps, an integrated roof spoiler, and a high-mounted third brake light. In terms of dimensions, the Zhidou Rainbow measures 3,224 mm long, 1,515 mm wide, and 1,630 mm tall, with a 2,100 mm wheelbase in a three-door, four-seater layout.
The car offers seven primary exterior colours alongside ten customisable body trim zones (including the bonnet panel, front bumper with charging flap, wheel covers, door panels, and side lower claddings), with each section supporting seven distinct colour options to yield up to 280 million personalised combinations. Inside, the cabin adopts a minimalist layout heavily featuring rounded rectangles and circular motifs, available in four curated interior themes: Spring Blossom, Summer Cool, Autumn Mist, and Winter Ballad. The Pro variant offers five interior colourways—Sandstone Brown, Mist Grey, Forest Green, Cloud Blue, and Dawn Pink—along with standard leatherette upholstery.
The Zhidou Rainbow is powered by a rear-mounted single permanent magnet synchronous electric motor, available in two outputs: 20 kW (around 27 PS) and 30 kW (around 41 PS). The 20 kW motor produces 85 Nm of peak torque, while the 30 kW unit generates 113 Nm. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a single-speed EV reduction gearbox in a rear-motor, rear-wheel-drive (RWD) configuration. Top speed is rated at 102 km/h.
In terms of driving range, the Zhidou Rainbow offers several CLTC-rated range variants depending on battery size: the 9.98 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery delivers up to 125 km; the 17.18 kWh and 17.3 kWh packs offer 205 km and 201 km respectively; while the range-topping Pro variant equipped with a 24.01 kWh battery delivers up to 282 km. For charging, standard variants support AC slow charging only, requiring 6.5 to 10 hours for a full replenish; the Caiyun and higher-spec Pro variants support DC fast charging, getting up to 80% state of charge in approximately 30 minutes. Tipping the scales at a light kerb weight of roughly 800 kg, the car pairs low mass with an RWD setup to deliver agile city handling and frugal energy consumption.
The Zhidou Rainbow is underpinned by front MacPherson independent struts and a rear trailing-arm non-independent suspension, a common setup in this micro-hatchback segment that balances basic ride compliance with cost-effective engineering. Stopping power comes from front ventilated discs and rear solid discs, paired with an electronic parking brake (EPB). It employs an electric power steering (EPS) system with a tight turning radius of just 4.19 metres, ensuring effortless manoeuvrability in congested urban traffic and tight parking spots.
The car rides on 13-inch wheels with optional wheel covers. Drive modes include Eco and Standard, and Hill-Start Assist (HSA) comes standard to automatically hold braking pressure on inclines, preventing roll-back during hill starts.
The Zhidou Rainbow's interior prioritises user-friendly practicality. The cockpit features a floating digital instrument display, while mid-to-high-spec variants receive a floating central touchscreen—the Pro variant upgrades to a 9.0-inch HD display supporting a reverse camera, rear parking sensors, wireless Apple CarPlay, and voice control. Transmission selection is handled via an intuitive rotary gear selector, and climate controls rely on traditional physical three-dial knobs for straightforward operation.
Storage space is abundant, boasting over 20 dedicated compartments, bag hooks, and netting pockets throughout the cabin tailored for daily essentials like lipsticks, wallets, mobile phones, and tissue packs. The rear bench folds flat as a single unit, expanding luggage capacity to 1,034 litres for practical cargo hauling. Other comfort and convenience appointments include manual air conditioning, power windows, and smartphone app remote telematics on selected trims. Audio needs are served by a standard radio and basic multimedia playback system.
On the active safety front, all Zhidou Rainbow variants come equipped with an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) as standard. For passive safety, entry-level variants do not include airbags, whereas Pro variants feature standard dual front airbags for the driver and front passenger. Tyre pressure monitoring alert and rear ISOFIX child seat anchor points are also included, with base safety specifications tailored strictly to meet mandatory homologation baselines.
In terms of driver assistance, the car’s equipment remains elementary. All variants feature rear parking sensors and a reverse camera as standard to assist with tight parking manoeuvres, with higher-spec and Pro models adding basic smartphone app remote connectivity. The car does not offer Level 2 advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), omitting features like autonomous emergency braking, lane centring assist, adaptive cruise control, or automated park assist, remaining focused strictly on core runabout functionality.
The Rainbow represents a pivotal comeback model for Zhidou Auto in 2024, following an acute sales collapse in 2018 and subsequent insolvency restructuring. Founded in 2006, Zhidou was an early pioneer in China’s new energy vehicle market, consistently topping domestic micro EV sales charts between 2015 and 2017 with a market share approaching 18%, and exporting to more than 30 countries across Europe, South America, and beyond.
However, the Rainbow's market performance has fallen short of expectations. Wholesales recorded 1,510 units in August 2024, reaching a post-launch high of 2,250 units in December 2024. Across the full 2025 calendar year, cumulative deliveries totalled around 9,677 units, with monthly sales fluctuating between 580 and 1,276 units—averaging under 1,000 units per month. This trails far behind class leaders, with the Wuling Hongguang MINIEV commanding 20,000 to 30,000 units monthly and the Geely Panda reliably moving over 10,000 units per month.
Feedback from consumers and industry observers suggests that while the Rainbow showed flair in bespoke visual customisation, it struggled with pricing, kit levels, and brand pull. Entry-level variants were heavily scrutinised for omitting essential features such as air conditioning and a central touchscreen display, leaving it at a competitive disadvantage against rivals. Moreover, years of market absence eroded consumer awareness, while heavy reliance on Aima’s sales channels in lower-tier rural and township markets capped wider adoption. Moving forward, the upcoming Zhidou Rainbow Max (featuring a five-door, four-seat layout and up to 303 km of CLTC range) has been filed with China’s MIIT, with hopes that expanding the line-up will improve showroom visibility and brand competitiveness.
© 2024 Bitauto.com. All Rights Reserved.
Bitauto (www.yiche.com and www.bitauto.com) is one of the most visited automotive websites in China. We provide detailed info on Chinese car brands available in your area. Please note that the information provided on this website is based on publicly available data and is for reference only. It may not be fully updated or accurate at all times.
Help us improve our website
