At the Shanghai Auto Show, SAIC unveiled a concept car through its most entry-level brand, the Roewe Pearl (Roewe is the evolution of Rover, which SAIC cannot use due to licensing restrictions). However, this prototype is anything but basic.
The imposing luxury car resembles a Rolls-Royce, but this time it’s no copy: the design is the work of Josef Kabaň, former Head of Design at Rolls-Royce and the creative mind behind some of the most iconic models of the past twenty years, including the Bugatti Veyron. SAIC chose Kabaň—who has also worked across nearly all brands within the Volkswagen Group—to reposition Roewe as a premium brand.
Roewe Pearl: between Rolls and Jaguar
The Roewe Pearl is a futuristic electric sedan that in some aspects echoes the Rolls-Royce Ghost and the recently unveiled Jaguar Type 00.
The design features smooth yet defined lines, clean surfaces, and sophisticated details such as frameless suicide doors, electronic rearview mirrors, and multiple gold accents framing the windows.
The front stands out with a bright LED strip topped by an illuminated Roewe logo. The same design theme continues at the rear lights, creating a stylistic harmony that conveys both elegance and innovation.
Inside, the Pearl is conceived as a four-seater lounge: there’s plenty of space—especially for rear passengers—foldable tables, an oval-shaped steering wheel, and a large central screen dominating the dashboard. It’s clear that the onboard experience aims to go beyond simple transportation, targeting limousine-level comfort and functionality.
“Accessibility Can Also Be Prestigious”
According to SAIC, the Pearl’s design represents the new stylistic language that will guide the entire Roewe lineup in the years to come. And while Chinese media jokingly refer to it as a “People’s Rolls-Royce” that could retail for around 100,000 yuan (roughly €10,000), SAIC’s message is clear: accessibility and prestige can go hand in hand.
Roewe’s repositioning, however, didn’t start with the Pearl. As early as 2023, the brand launched the D7 EV, an electric sedan with design cues reminiscent of Nio, offering a 610 km range under the Chinese CLTC cycle. The car is sold in export markets under the MG brand (although not yet in Europe). The plug-in hybrid version, unveiled in October 2024, went on to set a Guinness World Record, covering 2,208 km on a single tank and full charge, with fuel consumption of just 2.49 L/100 km.
