BAIC’s Israel Launch Draws Criticism Over Sparse Safety and Awkward Rollout

After a dispute between two importers, Delhom Motors won the right to market BAIC in Israel and is doing so through a partnership with Rami Levy Stock Mobility. The launch, however, has been widely framed as clumsy, with the first models presented through a dedicated website rather than a standard press rollout, and with obvious translation and presentation problems.

The first car on sale is the BAIC EU5, a family sedan listed at an introductory price of under NIS 99,900. It measures 4.65 meters long, 1.82 meters wide and 1.51 meters high, has a 2.67-meter wheelbase and a 430-liter trunk. The front-wheel-drive car has 163 hp, is said to accelerate to 100 km/h in under 10 seconds, and uses a 48.3 kWh NCM battery. The claimed range is 401 km under the NEDC standard, which the article says should be reduced by about 20% to 30% in real-world comparison.

Safety and equipment are the main problem. The EU5 is offered with only two airbags and no active safety systems, while comfort features are limited to a 9-inch multimedia screen, a 7-inch driver display, rear sensors, 17-inch wheels and an alarm. The article notes that even the website language appears poorly prepared, with broken links and missing safety and emissions tables.

Delhom also says it will sell two ARCFOX models, another BAIC brand built to European standards, through Rami Levy Stock Mobility. Those are the Alpha T electric SUV and the Alpha S sedan, with previous reports indicating single-motor versions of 217 hp or 238 hp and an all-wheel-drive version of 435 hp. If they arrive with the larger battery, expected ranges are about 540 km and 570 km, and a price of NIS 165,000 per unit is quoted for orders of 10 cars of each model. The article warns that the launch could damage the brand unless it is corrected quickly.