Skywell: owner, models, markets and what the name means
Facts checked United States status as of 4 September 2026
- Electric-native
Skywell is the export name of a Nanjing electric-vehicle business with an unusual parentage: it belongs to Huang Hongsheng, who founded the television maker Skyworth and who took over Nanjing Golden Dragon Bus in 2012. The bus company, established in 2000, is the older half of the business and sells electric buses and vans in Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, India, Canada, Chile, Ukraine, the Dominican Republic and Hong Kong.
The car side began in 2017 as a plan and produced its first vehicle, the ET5 SUV, in 2020 under the name Tianmei (天美). In April 2021 the division was renamed Skyworth Auto and the car became the Skyworth EV6, borrowing the recognition of the founder's television brand. Sales in China were 4,088 in 2021, 21,916 in 2022 and 29,701 in 2023.
Abroad the cars use the Skywell name, or the importer's. In Germany the ET5 has been sold by Elaris as the Elaris Beo, and a North American venture has marketed it as the Imperium ET5. Because the export arrangements run through importers and rebadgers, the market list here is limited to what could be sourced.
Owned by Skywell New Energy Automobile Group of Nanjing, founded by Skyworth's Huang Hongsheng; it also owns Nanjing Golden Dragon Bus. Not part of any of China's larger car groups.
Key facts
| Chinese name | 开沃 “kye-WORE” 开 kāi 'to open' + 沃 wò 'fertile' — a coined name, romanised as Skywell |
|---|---|
| Also written | Skyworth, Skyworth Auto, Tianmei, 创维汽车 and 天美汽车 |
| Owner | Independent |
| Founded | 2020 |
| Headquarters | Nanjing, China |
| Origin | China |
| First car | Skywell ET5 (later Skyworth EV6), 2020 |
| Vehicles | Cars and commercial vehicles |
| Segment | Mass market |
| United States | Never sold in the United States — No Skywell or Skyworth car has been sold to US retail customers. A North American venture marketing the ET5 as the Imperium ET5 has been reported; this record could not verify any sales. |
| Parent | Skywell New Energy Automobile Group, Nanjing, founded by Skyworth founder Huang Hongsheng, who became chairman of Nanjing Golden Dragon Bus on 27 February 2012 |
| Bus business | Nanjing Golden Dragon Bus, established 2000; electric buses exported to Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, India, Canada, Chile, Ukraine, the Dominican Republic and Hong Kong |
| Car brand names | Launched as Tianmei (天美) in 2020, renamed Skyworth Auto (创维汽车) in April 2021, exported as Skywell |
| China sales | 4,088 (2021), 21,916 (2022), 29,701 (2023) |
| Rebadging abroad | Sold in Germany by Elaris as the Elaris Beo; marketed in North America as the Imperium ET5 |
Who owns Skywell?
Huang Hongsheng controls Skywell New Energy Automobile Group Co., Ltd. since 27 February 2012.
Huang Hongsheng, founder of the television maker Skyworth, became chairman of Nanjing Golden Dragon Bus on 27 February 2012 and was recorded as owning 80% of that company as of 2015. His holding in the wider Skywell group was not verified.
Skywell New Energy Automobile Group Co., Ltd. owns Skywell at 100% since 2020.
Skywell New Energy Automobile Group of Nanjing owns the car business, sold in China as Skyworth (创维) since April 2021 and exported as Skywell. The group also owns Nanjing Golden Dragon Bus.
The full ownership page for Skywell · Is Skywell Chinese?
Skywell models
| Model | Name in China | Body | Powertrain | Range | Price in China |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 创维EV6Skywell ET5 | 天美ET5 (Skywell ET5) | SUV | Battery-electric | 410 km NEDC | CNY 152,800 as of |
Where Skywell is sold
Recorded in 2 market s: CN and Germany. Where a company publishes only its principal markets, that is a floor and not a complete list.
| Country | Code | Market page |
|---|---|---|
| China | CN | no page yet |
| Germany | DE | Chinese cars in Germany |
Skywell: questions people ask
- Who owns Skywell?
- Skywell New Energy Automobile Group of Nanjing, founded by Huang Hongsheng, who also founded the television maker Skyworth. It is independent of China's large car groups.
- Are Skywell and Skyworth the same brand?
- Yes. The cars are sold in China as Skyworth (创维) and exported as Skywell (开沃). They were briefly called Tianmei (天美) when the first car appeared in 2020, before the April 2021 rename.
- Is Skywell related to the Skyworth televisions?
- Through their founder, yes. Huang Hongsheng founded Skyworth and later the Nanjing vehicle business, and the car division borrowed the Skyworth name in 2021.
- Where are Skywell cars sold?
- In China as Skyworth, and abroad through importers — in Germany, for example, the ET5 has been sold by Elaris as the Elaris Beo. The group's electric buses have a much wider export footprint.
Related
Sources for Skywell
- Wikipedia, Nanjing Golden Dragon Bus. Read . Founding, Huang Hongsheng's chairmanship, the Skywell name and the bus export markets
- Wikipedia, Skyworth Auto. Read . Tianmei to Skyworth renaming with dates, models, sales figures and the Elaris and Imperium rebadges