Chinese automaker Aiways is testing its battery-powered U5 on a marathon journey from China to Germany, where the SUV is scheduled to arrive in time for the Frankfurt auto show in September.

The 14,231-km (8,843-mile) trip will take an Aiways convoy through the Gobi Desert, Kazakhstan, Russia and into Europe. Engineers will test everything from the 'E-Drive' powertrain through to the chassis settings and steering characteristics.

Two U5 prototypes left the city of Xian at the eastern end of the Silk Road in central China on Wednesday. Aiways aims for the cars to reach Frankfurt in the first week of September.

Aiways plans to launch sales of the U5 in Europe next April.