KIA x BYD's Mini Electric Car: The "Bearcat mini" Debuts in China

On April 15, KIA officials announced the launch of their latest electric vehicle, the "Bearcat mini", a compact and stylish microcar that is now available for purchase. Priced at CNY 4.99万元, the car comes with an additional CNY 5,000 cash gift and will have a limited-time special offer price of CNY 4.49万.

To make its launch even more appealing, KIA announced several user benefits, including a portable charginggun, as well as a lifetime warranty for non-operators. Both features are designed to enhance the overall ownership experience.

Design and Features

The 2025 Bearcat mini is the latest installment in the "Bearcat" series and continues the design language of its predecessors, with round LED headlights, enclosed grille panels, and distinctive wheel designs that bring a touch of elegance. With the microcar's compact size, it has become increasingly challenging to manage visibility; however, with an aggressive front-end and circular taillights, this vehicle makes for a stylish ride.

Among other design elements was added some subtle flair by including the rounded appearance of the wheels accompanied by intricate eyebrow designs that were reminiscent of a vintage car. This combined wheel arrangement created a memorable finish for the microcar's frontal stance.

With regards to colors, there are four possibilities, ranging from vibrant "Minty" hues that evoke the spirit of a peaceful environment all the way through to deep brown shades, creating various contrasting styles.

Inside, the cabin is designed around the core theme 'Power and Spirit'. It does this by offering an integrated design scheme with circular patterns, as well as an interior configuration tailored specifically towards contemporary preferences. This includes ergonomic seats coupled with central control units that facilitate advanced navigation. The addition of smartphone integration allows drivers to navigate through their route plans or play music all they can do via voice commands. Users are able to also access various app settings remotely, opening up many potential convenience options.

Moreover, the front section offers an integrated cup holder and storage bin on the door panel with the goal of improving mobility for both front and rear passengers.

In terms of Size, The vehicle measures 3,08515221600mm respectively; while still compact, they provide optimal versatility based on passenger preferences as well as storage capacity. It is worth noting that an extendable trunk, which expands its capacity to 800L from the initial set size of around 69ltrs.

On top of all that, it has two electric motors with a combined peak power of 41 Horsepower at their core; delivering performance on both short and long distances by boosting your speed across road networks. Not to forget the batteries, which pack approximately 17 kWh worth of Lithium Iron Phosphate cells, offering an impressive driving range of around 210 miles when purely running from electric energy alone.

For an instant recharge process though, there are two options for charging capabilities: A rapid charger with a capacity of 22 kW, and a slower standard battery charger.