German Media Explore Beijing81, Witnessing China's Rugged Off-Road Intelligent Manufacturing

On May 23, a group of mainstream German media visited the Beijing Chaopan Automobile Culture Camp to take part in the "German Media Explore Beijing81" event, a key segment of the 2026 China-Germany Media Beijing Exchange Series.

Group photo of the Beijing81 vehicle appreciation and technical exchange

During the five-day itinerary, the German journalists visited multiple institutions, the 798 Art Zone, and the Mutianyu Great Wall, experiencing China's contemporary development from various dimensions. Beijing81 draws on more than six decades of off-road vehicle expertise. Facing the wave of new energy transition, it inherits the legacy of the second-generation Warrior, integrates range-extender electric drive technology, and presents a fresh vision of a rugged Chinese SUV. Inviting German media for this preview represented a candid dialogue between Chinese intelligent manufacturing and an automotive powerhouse.

A presenter guided guests through a close-up tour of the Beijing81 vehicle

During the appreciation session, presenters offered detailed explanations covering exterior design, interior, powertrain, and safety, giving the German media a direct impression of a rugged Chinese new energy SUV. Positioned as China's first tactical box-shaped rugged new energy SUV, the Beijing81 carries the lineage of the second-generation Warrior. It features refined craftsmanship, durable hardware, and adaptability to both off-road and urban scenarios. The front five-slot grille, inspired by Great Wall bricks, merges Eastern aesthetics with a bold stance. The interior follows a hardcore tactical style, with three 12.3-inch screens matched by bullet-shaped buttons that balance mechanical feel with functional design. A flexible 4+2 seat layout paired with a Hi-Fi audio system meets diverse travel needs.

For the powertrain, the Beijing81 uses a 1.5T range extender with dual electric motors front and rear, enabling pure-electric city driving and range-extended long-distance travel that is both eco-friendly and economical. The vehicle is equipped with a body-on-frame chassis, three differential locks, and a professional four-wheel-drive system, alongside intelligent electronic control and all-terrain technology that supports continuous iterative upgrades.

Christoph Maria Alois Maier, Editor-in-Chief of Oberbayerisches Volksblatt (first from right)

During the test drive evaluation, German journalists gave the Beijing81 high praise. Christoph Maria Alois Maier, Editor-in-Chief of Oberbayerisches Volksblatt, commended its commanding presence, spacious interior, and distinctive design and styling.

Florian Schiller, Managing Director of Editorial and Operations at Oberbayerisches Volksblatt (first from left)

Florian Schiller, Managing Director of Editorial and Operations at Oberbayerisches Volksblatt, remarked, "What impressed me most is the vehicle's 3D imaging system, which clearly displays the car's position, tire status, and surrounding road conditions in real time. Its capabilities are strong overall, making it highly competitive in the international market."

Andrea Roth, Vice President of the Bavarian Journalists Association, Editor-in-Chief of the Science, Education and Society Department at Bayerischer Rundfunk, and television journalist (first from right)

During the technical exchange, Chinese and German media engaged in in-depth discussions on industry technology, manufacturing philosophy, and development trends with the Beijing81 technical team. Andrea Roth, Vice President of the Bavarian Journalists Association, Editor-in-Chief of the Science, Education and Society Department at Bayerischer Rundfunk, and television journalist, noted that the Beijing81 offers competitive pricing and solid quality, combining high value to help expand into the European market with broad international prospects.

A Beijing81 executive stated that the box-shaped rugged SUV represents a long-term trend and that the brand will rely on proprietary technology and a long-term approach to secure its market position. This exchange has pointed the way for the brand's global strategy. Moving forward, the brand will align with European standards and build differentiated advantages through original design and in-house electric drive technology, steadily advancing its overseas plans.

Representatives of Chinese and German media and the Beijing81 team toasted the successful completion of the exchange.

Through this event, the German media delegation gained an in-depth experience of Beijing81's craftsmanship and technology, grasping the innovative path of China's new energy off-road vehicles. Beijing81 has become a vivid case study in observing the upward breakthrough of Chinese intelligent manufacturing. (Photo: Beijing81 Auto / Text: Yang Yunfei)