Meet GM's tiny new electric ute for China

General Motors and SAIC Motor joint-venture brand Baojun has previewed a tiny new electric ute for the Chinese market.

Based on the Yep electric microcar revealed in February, the Yep Pickup is a two-seater ute which Baojun claims will set off a wave of two-door electric utes.

Like the Yep wagon, there’s chunky, upright styling, with a flush grille panel up front flanked by distinctive LED headlights with four daytime running light elements.

However, it’s different from the B-pillar back, with the wagon’s rear seats removed and a small tub in their place. The spare tyre is mounted on the tailgate, and the tyres appear grippier than those of the regular Yep.

While dimensions have yet to be released for the ute, the wagon measures 3381mm long, 1684mm wide and 1720mm tall on a 2108mm wheelbase.

The Yep features single-motor rear-wheel drive, with the rear-mounted electric motor producing 50kW of power and 140Nm of torque.

It’s powered by a lithium iron phosphate battery pack with a claimed 303km of range, likely on the more lenient CLTC standard.

Baojun is part of the SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile (SGMW) joint venture, which includes SAIC Motor, the owner of brands like MG and LDV.

The brand was established in 2010 with the aim of targeting buyers outside of China’s largest cities.

A wide range of vehicles are sold under the Chinese market-only brand, from electric microcars through to small combustion-powered people movers, hatchbacks and wagons through to the 4925mm-long RC-6 coupe SUV.

Also forming part of the SGMW joint venture is Wuling, which sells a similar range of vehicles as well as commercial vans and a ute.