Can fly, can swim, now this China brand says it can cure your diarrhoea: Skyworth EV6, coming to Malaysia in Q3 2024, CKD

Look, we've all seen our fair share of controversial claims in the years we've been covering the auto industry's news...but this is the first time a company declares their car can extend one's lifespan. 

By 30 years. And cure your diarrhea.

That's what Skyworth's – also known as Skywell, with their business primarily being home appliances like TVs and air conditioners, now dabbling into cars – founder Huang Hongsheng declared at the recent Beijing Auto Show. Paraphrasing what's making waves across Chinese media, Huang declared that the lifespan of Skyworth EV6 owners can extend by 30 years, "allowing each car owner to enjoy a hundred years of life".

How exactly the car does it isn't properly explained (were you expecting otherwise?), save for mentions that it has "active sleep promotion technology", which promotes deep sleep and measures sleep quality. Huang himself said that napping in the car everyday for the past ten years has brought down his high blood pressure levels and cured things like typhoid fever, and even acute pneumonia.    

"Skyworth cars can relieve high blood pressure, improve immunity, and eliminate habitual diarrhea. Since driving Skyworth electric cars, my high blood pressure, diabetes and other problems have been cured," continued the founder, according to a news piece by mydrivers.com.

They're all very bold claims, something Chinese consumers have noted to be trademark of the eccentric founder. This latest stunt has been met with derision on social media, with some  saying "this makes me laugh" while others branding the whole thing as " crooked marketing". 

Wait, it's coming to Malaysia?

Controversies aside, the Skywell brand is coming to Malaysia in Q3 2024 under distributors NexV Auto Alliance Sdn. Bhd.; a newly-established subsidiary of glove-maker Careplus Group Berhad. Local assembly (CKD) is planned in their Chembong, Negeri Sembilan plant.

Phase one of the plant is scheduled to start operation in early 2025, with a production capacity of 30,000 units per year. Phases two and three are slated to begin in 2026 and 2028, upping the production capacity to 50,000 cars per year.

No models were explicitly announced just yet, but Skyworth itself has only two models: the aforementioned EV6 BEV and the plug-in hybrid HTi SUVs; both available in right-hand drive for export markets too.

In China, the EV6 is available with either a 52 kWh, 72 kWh or 86 kWh battery for 402 km, 520 km, and 620 km electric range on the NEDC cycle. Power comes from a single electric motor with 204 PS and 320 Nm.

Prices in China range from CNY 157k to CNY 330k (~RM 100k to RM 217k).