Nobody saw it coming this fast. Chinese micro-EVs are no longer a curiosity tucked away in Shenzhen catalogs — they’ve just landed in Europe. Shandong Bontu New Energy Vehicle Industry, founded just five years ago in Xintai (Shandong province), rolled out its European lineup right in Milan. The portfolio: two electric microcars and a compact commercial vehicle in three flavors — Pick-up, Truck and Cargo. Prices? Still under wraps.
A curious detail: at home the brand goes by Bentu, but for Europe it picked the snappier Bontu. And it’s wasted no time. All three models are already homologated under EU Regulation 168/2013 in the L6e and L7e categories — technically quadricycles, which means they slip past the EU’s anti-Chinese tariffs. A clever move.
The star of the lineup is the BTE05. A city runabout just 3 meters long, available as a two- or four-seater. Power output: 13 to 20 kW nominal, 20–30 kW peak. Top speed: 90 km/h, more than enough for tight European city centers. The 13,9 and 18,1 kWh batteries deliver 170 and 222 km of range respectively.
The BTE09 targets a younger crowd — literally. The L6e version, capped at 45 km/h, can be driven from age 14, while the peppier L7e (75 km/h) is for 16-year-olds. Range is 130 or 150 km, and charging takes three hours. A scooter alternative — with a roof over your head.
The commercial BTE03 closes the case for the “last mile”. Payload: 340 kg, battery 8,35 kWh, range 80–100 km. For small businesses Bontu promises pennies-on-the-dollar running costs, zero local emissions and a 3-year or 50,000 km warranty. For couriers and pizza delivery folks — just the ticket.
