- The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV was a success in China. It used to outsell the Tesla Mannequin Y, although gross sales have been down final 12 months.
- Wuling bought 237,863 items of the Hongguang Mini EV in 2023, down from 404,823 in 2022.
- The present Wuling Hongguang Mini EV has a base worth of $5,046 (35,800 CNY)
Earlier than tales of BYD’s Seagull, or Nio’s Onvo model dominated the media cycle for taking Tesla to job, there was one automobile that refused to depart the lips of journalists: the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV. Made partially with assist from GM, and stated to be impressed by Japanese Kei automobiles, the cube-shaped tiny EV rocketed to the highest of China’s EV gross sales charts. At one level, its roughly $4,000 worth made headlines, and its gross sales numbers even surpassed the Tesla Mannequin Y. However China’s market is fickle. A prime vendor at the moment might be yesterday’s information on the drop of a hat. The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV has fallen fairly far down the gross sales charts, however it appears like a brand new one is on the horizon with probably broader enchantment.
China’s Ministry of Trade and Data Know-how (MIIT) has uncovered patent-style photographs of Wuling’s littlest EV earlier than its official debut. Registering with the MIIT is a mandatory step for automakers trying to launch a automobile in China, even when it exposes the design of the automobile earlier than its media introduction.
From what we will see, the brand new Wuling Hongguang Mini EV continues to be considerably boxy, however it appears no less than a bit of bit extra upscale. The scale are nonetheless petite. The Hongguang Mini EV is barely 128.2 inches lengthy, although that is fairly a bit longer than the 114.8-inch authentic. A large 9.8 of these inches go proper to the Hongguang Mini EV’s wheelbase. Thus, the Hongguang Mini EV will now include an elective further set of doorways. The five-door mannequin ought to improve the automobile’s enchantment, though it might step on the toes of the Wuling Bingo.
MIIT
There aren’t any specs on the battery, the MIIT submitting does inform us a bit in regards to the motor. We are able to see a strong axle and a motor peaking underneath the bumper cowl within the rear shot. The MIIT says the automobile may have a 40 horsepower motor and a prime velocity of 62 mph.
MIIT
I’ve little doubt that this automobile will generate gross sales, however it doubtless received’t ever get again to the highest of being China’s best-selling EV. For starters, China has ended many subsidies for automobiles which might be this small and gradual. In China, EVs that go lower than 124 miles (200 km) or can’t exceed 100 km/h (62 mph) don’t qualify for a similar tax incentives as longer-range automobiles. Equally, automobiles just like the previous Hongguang Mini EV and its ilk have developed a popularity of being unsafe automobiles. The previous Wuling Hongguang EV didn’t have any airbags and even an precise bumper. Producers have began to improve the security of those fashions, however it appears to have affected the worth. For instance, the Changan Lumin Corn is known as a “technology two” mini EV, however its base worth is $7,300. By comparability, the BYD Seagull is an actual automobile with extra vary and a prime velocity of 81 mph, and that may be had for a bit of underneath $10,000.
This won’t be nice information for GM, which is intently tied with Wuling. GM’s manufacturers have struggled in China these days, and it desperately wants gross sales to cease the model from shrinking to nothing. This revised Wuling Hongguang Mini EV might find yourself being higher, however it received’t be sufficient to show the corporate’s fortunes round in China.
The Tesla Mannequin Y’s gross sales numbers will in all probability be secure.
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