Formed by ex-VW strong men, BeyonCa is an EV startup with Singaporean input, Tesla rival by 2024

No, Beyonce has not suddenly decided to start her own car company to fight against Tesla but BeyonCa is a brand-new EV startup from China (with R&D hub in Singapore). Unlike Appollen, its founders have experience in the automotive industry.

Both its founders, Soh Weiming and Christian Klingler have experience working for Volkswagen with Singaporean Soh responsible for bringing Mercedes-Benz into China before spending 16 years with Volkswagen China.

Aside from being BeyonCa's founder and chairman, Soh will concurrently hold his position as Renault China's CEO. Meanwhile, Klingler was a member of the Board of Management, responsible for Sales and Marketing at Volkswagen.

BeyonCa also comprises an elite team of premium car industry veterans as well as technology experts from consumer electronics and internet companies. Its first model planned is the BeyonCa Gran Turismo Opus 1 (GT Opus 1) which is planned to be launched in 2024.

The GT Opus 1 is described as a full-size super premium EV with a focus on luxurious interiors and materials as well as advanced technology. One of the latter features planned is an AI-based smart cockpit that monitors the user’s health status in real-time as well as the world’s first in-cabin cloud doctor service.

A sort of smart ambulance built into a premium luxury EV? Whether it can be fulfilled or not will be answered in two years' time but beyond providing state-of-the-art healthcare services and elegant materials, the GT Opus 1 would also feature a Sport edition that would imbue the company’s motorsport DNA.

The company currently has global offices in 5 cities across 3 countries including 3 R&D offices in China, a design centre in Munich, and a Singapore office that will also become an R&D hub.

BeyonCa's head office is located in China, at No. 8 Bahe Road North, Jiangtai, Chaoyang District, 100016 Beijing.

Also read: Singapore to phase out combustion engines by 2040, starts building Hyundai EV plant

The Dongfeng Group is mentioned as one of BeyonCa’s strategic investment partners which also comprised of other unnamed international investors. As for the name BeyonCa, it stands for “Beyond the Car” so there is no reference to Queen Bey.