- The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV was successful in China. It used to outsell the Tesla Mannequin Y, although gross sales had been down final yr.
- 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 value 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 go away the lips of journalists: the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV. Made partially with assist from GM, and mentioned 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 value made headlines, and its gross sales numbers even surpassed the Tesla Mannequin Y. However China’s market is fickle. A high vendor in the present day could possibly be yesterday’s information on the drop of a hat. The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV has fallen fairly far down the gross sales charts, but it surely appears like a brand new one is on the horizon with doubtlessly broader enchantment.
China’s Ministry of Business 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 essential 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 are able to see, the brand new Wuling Hongguang Mini EV remains to be considerably boxy, but it surely appears at the very least a bit bit extra upscale. The size 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 unique. 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 optionally available additional set of doorways. The five-door mannequin ought to improve the automobile’s enchantment, though it may 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 concerning the motor. We will see a strong axle and a motor peaking beneath the bumper cowl within the rear shot. The MIIT says the automobile may have a 40 horsepower motor and a high velocity of 62 mph.
MIIT
I’ve little doubt that this automobile will generate gross sales, but it surely doubtless gained’t ever get again to the highest of being China’s best-selling EV. For starters, China has ended many subsidies for automobiles which are 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 repute of being unsafe autos. The previous Wuling Hongguang EV didn’t have any airbags and even an precise bumper. Producers have began to improve the protection of those fashions, but it surely appears to have affected the value. For instance, the Changan Lumin Corn is known as a “era two” mini EV, however its base value is $7,300. By comparability, the BYD Seagull is an actual automobile with extra vary and a high velocity of 81 mph, and that may be had for a bit beneath $10,000.
This won’t be nice information for GM, which is carefully tied with Wuling. GM’s manufacturers have struggled in China currently, and it desperately wants gross sales to cease the model from shrinking to nothing. This revised Wuling Hongguang Mini EV may find yourself being higher, but it surely gained’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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