The arrival of another Chinese manufacturer looks like another charter flight landing at Ben Gurion Airport. But BAIC, whose license was obtained by the Kaduri Group, will bring something missing in the local market: Off-road vehicles not priced at the level of the Land Cruiser, Wrangler, or Bronco.
In the second quarter of 2026, marketing will begin for five models, two of them conventional crossovers and three tougher ones with all-wheel drive and off-road capabilities, joining the Chinese Skywell models also imported by the Kaduri Group. In doing so, BAIC will precede Chinese off-road brands like iCar and Jetour from the Chery Group. All models will arrive fully compliant with European standards.
BAIC was founded in 1958 and has since been owned by the Chinese government. The company produces Mercedes and Hyundai models for the local market, and in the past manufactured Jeep models in China. Additionally, it produces electric vehicles for Xiaomi and trucks for the Foton brand. In 2024, it produced 2 million vehicles and is traded on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange with a market value of $16.6 billion.
BJ30: The answer to the Subaru Forester, with similar pricing, now in its second generation with slightly larger dimensions: 4.73 meters in length and a 2.82-meter wheelbase. Ground clearance is 21.5 cm, with better approach (24.5 degrees) and departure (30 degrees) angles, and 19-inch wheels. The hybrid powertrain is based on a 1.5-liter turbo gasoline engine with a combined output of 188 hp and 28.8 kg·m of torque. Currently available with five seats, a seven-seat version may join within a year.
BJ40: A larger off-road vehicle, still with five seats, featuring a ladder frame and low-range gear, but in its new generation it no longer resembles a Wrangler copy as it did in the first generation. Length: 4.79 meters, wheelbase: 2.76 meters. Ground clearance 22 cm, approach angle 36 degrees, departure angle 31 degrees. 18-inch wheels and plug-in hybrid drivetrain. Price will be over NIS 100,000 cheaper than a Wrangler.
BJ60: A seven-seat plug-in hybrid vehicle. 1.5-liter turbo gasoline engine combined with an electric motor, delivering a total of 267 hp. The 40.3 kWh battery provides an electric range of about 110 km under European standards. Length: 5.04 meters, wheelbase: 2.82 meters. Ground clearance 21.5 cm, approach angle 24 degrees, departure angle 30 degrees, rear-wheel or all-wheel drive with low-range gear. 18-inch wheels and off-road tires. Price will be over NIS 100,000 cheaper than a Toyota Land Cruiser, possibly even NIS 300,000.
Alongside them, two crossover models will be marketed: The X7, similar in size to the BJ30 (length: 4.71 meters) with a more modern design, and the smaller X55 (length: 4.62 meters), both with 1.5-liter turbo gasoline engines (177 hp) and dual-clutch automatic transmissions, priced under NIS 170,000.