The R7 is Rising Auto's first model after rebranding, with deliveries set to begin in late October.

(Image credit: Rising Auto)

SAIC Group's Rising Auto, previously known as R Auto, made its first post-rebranding model, the R7, available Tuesday, after unveiling the battery swap-enabled model in late February.

The model is a mid to large-size coupe SUV, similar to Nio's EC6. It measures 4,900 mm in length, 1,925 mm in width and 1,655 mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,950 mm.

For comparison, the Nio EC6 measures 4,850 mm in length, 1,965 mm in width and 1,731/ 1,714 mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,900 mm.

Rising Auto offers four versions of the R7, which have the following pricing and core specifications.

The standard version, priced at RMB 289,900 ($40,130) after subsidies, is powered by a 77-kWh battery pack, has a CLTC range of 551 km and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.8 seconds.

The long-range version, priced at RMB 309,900 after subsidies, features a 90-kWh battery pack, a CLTC range of 642 km and the ability to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.8 seconds.

The performance version, priced at RMB 326,900 after subsidies, is powered by a 90-kWh battery pack, has a CLTC range of 606 km and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds.

The flagship version, priced at RMB 356,900 after subsidies, is powered by a 90-kWh battery pack, has a CLTC range of 606 km and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds.

Like Nio, Rising Auto allows consumers to lease the battery instead of buying it with the car.

If consumers choose to lease the battery, the standard version will cost RMB 84,000 less after subsidies to RMB 205,900, and all three other versions will cost RMB 100,000 less after subsidies.

Battery rental costs vary by capacity, with the 77-kWh pack costing RMB 1,260 per month and the 90-kWh costing RMB 1,560.

It is worth noting that consumers who want to use the battery swap service must choose the battery rental purchase option.

For comparison, Nio allows all consumers to use battery swap in China, and Nio owners who choose to lease a battery will pay RMB 980 per month for the 75-kWh pack and RMB 1,680 for the 100-kWh pack.

The standard and long-range versions of the R7 are equipped with a single motor with a peak power of 250 kW and a peak torque of 450 Nm, while the performance and flagship versions have dual motors with peak power of 150 kW and 250 kW at the front and rear respectively, providing a combined peak torque of 700 Nm.

The flagship version of the model allows consumers to spend an additional RMB 20,000 for the optional LiDAR from Luminar of the US. The LiDAR uses a 1,550nm light source and has a maximum detection distance of over 500 meters.

The Rising R7 is equipped with an NVIDIA DRIVE Orin smart driving chip as standard, and the smart cockpit is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip. The flagship version has two Orin chips.

Deliveries of the Rising R7 will begin at the end of October, and the company plans to launch at least one new product per year from now until 2025, which will cover sedan, SUV, and MPV models, reiterating its previous plans.

Last week, SAIC announced that it has joined Sinopec, China National Petroleum Corp, CATL and Shanghai Automobile City to form a company specializing in battery swap services.

SAIC's Rising Auto, Roewe, MG and Maxus brands will launch battery swap-enabled models across all categories, including SUVs, sedans, MPVs and commercial vehicles, SAIC said.

SAIC's Rising Auto unveils battery swap-enabled coupe SUV R7