Jiyue (极越) was a premium smart-electric vehicle brand born in March 2021 as Jidu Auto, a joint venture between technology giant Baidu and automotive conglomerate Geely, before rebranding to Jiyue in August 2023. Geely held a 65-percent stake and Baidu 35 percent, with Baidu contributing its Apollo autonomous-driving platform and AI-powered cockpit software while Geely supplied the SEA vehicle architecture. The brand launched two production models: the Jiyue 01, a mid-size crossover marketed as a “Robocar” with advanced voice-controlled parking and highway pilot capabilities, and the Jiyue 07 sedan with up to 877 km of CLTC range. Despite strong technology credentials, Jiyue struggled with slow sales and mounting debts exceeding seven billion yuan across its brief existence. In December 2024 the brand effectively collapsed when CEO Xia Yiping disclosed severe financial distress in a widely reported video call, and both Baidu and Geely declined to inject further capital.
