Chevrolet is accelerating its push into the electric vehicle (EV) market with a rapidly growing lineup. Following the launches of electric versions of popular models such as the Blazer, Equinox, and Silverado, the automaker is now reviving yet another familiar name for its global EV portfolio: the Captiva. However, before American consumers get too excited, it's important to note that this new Captiva EV is not intended for the U.S. market. Instead, it is being developed exclusively for select international regions, particularly South America, and possibly the Middle East and Africa.
The Captiva badge dates back to the mid-2000s, when it was used for a compact SUV sold in regions like Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Southeast Asia. In some of these markets, it was also rebadged as the Daewoo Winstorm. After the original model was discontinued, General Motors brought back the Captiva name, basing the new version on the Baojun 530—a Chinese SUV. Now, the Captiva is being reimagined yet again, this time as a fully electric model, borrowing heavily from another Chinese product.
This latest iteration of the Captiva is built on the Wuling Starlight S, also known by its Chinese name, Xing Guang S. Wuling is a joint venture partner of General Motors in China, and their models often serve as the foundation for GM vehicles in emerging markets. According to recent social media posts from GM Brazil, the design of the new electric Captiva retains many elements of the Starlight S, with some modifications to align better with Chevrolet's signature design cues, especially around the front grille and badge styling.
Visually, the Captiva EV features sleek, narrow LED running lights and turn indicators at the top of the front fascia, with the primary headlamps placed lower on the bumper. Even though it’s an electric vehicle, Chevrolet has opted to include a large black grille, breaking from the trend of minimalist, grille-free designs commonly seen in newer EVs. The rear of the vehicle closely mirrors that of its Wuling counterpart, including similar taillights, a matching tailgate design, and a black rear bumper.
While Chevrolet has yet to officially release full technical details, we can expect the specifications to be similar to those of the Starlight S. That means the Captiva EV could offer a driving range of up to 510 km on a single charge and accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in approximately 7.7 seconds. Fast-charging capabilities are also anticipated, with the battery potentially charging from 30% to 80% in just 20 minutes.
Though the Captiva EV won’t be coming to North America, it represents another strategic move by Chevrolet to broaden its electric offerings in global markets where compact, affordable electric SUVs are in growing demand.