- Zotye has started batch trial production of the A0-class Wink Y01 International Edition to restart vehicle output, targeting overseas demand in Southeast Asia, South Asia and Latin America amid corporate recovery efforts.
- The Wink Y01 measures 3,912 mm long, 1,745 mm wide, 1,545 mm tall with a 2,520 mm wheelbase; design freeze and supplier selection are complete with rollout aimed within the year.
- The model targets export-focused A0 buyers and faces execution risks from regulatory approvals, sales channel buildout, funding shortfalls and widening H1 losses (RMB 190 million revenue; RMB 152 million adjusted net loss).
Zotye Auto has entered a batch trial production phase for its new A0-class new energy vehicle, the company said in an abnomal stock exchange filing on Sept. 9.
The model is primarily targeted at overseas markets and serves as a key product in Zotye’s plan to restart vehicle production.
The announcement came after Zotye’s shares triggered an unusual trading volatility notice, following a cumulative closing price deviation of more than 20% over two consecutive trading sessions.
In the filing, Zotye said it had no undisclosed major information requiring disclosure or correction.
The company also warned that the new model has not yet entered sales, with future commercialization still subject to uncertainties including regulatory approvals in target markets, sales channel development, market demand and funding requirements.
According to previously released information, the A0-class model, named the Wink Y01 International Edition, is built on Zotye’s S-series small EV platform and is designed for overseas markets.
The vehicle measures 3,912 mm in length, 1,745 mm in width and 1,545 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,520 mm.
Zotye has completed the design freeze and supplier selection process, and the model is currently undergoing testing and validation. The company aims to achieve vehicle rollout within the year.
For Zotye, the return to the EV market is not a completely new attempt. The company previously launched small electric models including the Zotye E200 and Yun 100.
The renewed focus on A0-class EVs represents another effort to restore its vehicle manufacturing operations.
In recent years, demand for compact EVs has increased in overseas markets, particularly across emerging regions such as Southeast Asia, South Asia and Latin America.
According to data from CPCA, A00- and A0-class EVs accounted for 56.5% of China’s pure electric vehicle exports in August 2026, up significantly from 45.2% a year earlier.
Zotye’s decision to use overseas markets as the initial growth driver is also aligned with its current recovery strategy.
The company’s first-half 2026 report showed that Zotye is prioritizing markets including ASEAN, South Asia, Africa and Latin America, seeking to restart its vehicle business through overseas orders.
At the end of June, Zotye reached a cooperation agreement with Indonesia’s BPKN on a new energy vehicle industry chain project.
The two sides plan to cooperate on overseas manufacturing facilities, power battery supply chains and exports to Southeast Asia.
In July, Zotye signed a KD project agreement with India’s Kaly Emotors, planning to establish an SKD assembly project with an annual capacity of 30,000 vehicle kits.
The first models introduced under the project will be A0-class vehicles.
However, financial data shows that Zotye remains in a recovery phase.
In the first half of 2026, the company reported revenue of RMB 190 million ($28.3 million), down 32.08% year over year.
During the same period, adjusted net profit attributable to shareholders recorded a loss of RMB 152 million ($22.6 million), with losses widening 40.31% year over year.
Zotye said the wider loss was mainly due to increased R&D investment during the pre-production phase of the A0-class model, while its stamping business was still undergoing capacity ramp-up.
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