- The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV was a success in China. It used to outsell the Tesla Mannequin Y, although gross sales had been down final yr.
- Wuling offered 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 process, there was one automotive that refused to depart the lips of journalists: the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV. Made partly 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 worth made headlines, and its gross sales numbers even surpassed the Tesla Mannequin Y. However China’s market is fickle. A high vendor right now 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 seems to be like a brand new one is on the horizon with doubtlessly broader enchantment.
China’s Ministry of Trade and Info Know-how (MIIT) has uncovered patent-style pictures of Wuling’s littlest EV earlier than its official debut. Registering with the MIIT is a obligatory step for automakers seeking to launch a automotive in China, even when it exposes the design of the automotive earlier than its media introduction.
From what we are able to see, the brand new Wuling Hongguang Mini EV remains to be considerably boxy, however it seems to be a minimum of just a little bit extra upscale. The scale are nonetheless petite. The Hongguang Mini EV is simply 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 non-compulsory further set of doorways. The five-door mannequin ought to enhance the automotive’s enchantment, though it may step on the toes of the Wuling Bingo.
MIIT
There are not any specs on the battery, the MIIT submitting does inform us a bit concerning the motor. We are able to see a stable axle and a motor peaking underneath the bumper cowl within the rear shot. The MIIT says the automotive can have a 40 horsepower motor and a high velocity of 62 mph.
MIIT
I’ve little question that this automotive will generate gross sales, however it 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 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 outdated Hongguang Mini EV and its ilk have developed a fame of being unsafe autos. The outdated Wuling Hongguang EV didn’t have any airbags and even an precise bumper. Producers have began to improve the protection of those fashions, however it appears to have affected the worth. For instance, the Changan Lumin Corn is known as a “era two” mini EV, however its base worth is $7,300. By comparability, the BYD Seagull is an actual automotive with extra vary and a high velocity of 81 mph, and that may be had for just a little underneath $10,000.
This won’t be nice information for GM, which is carefully tied with Wuling. GM’s manufacturers have struggled in China recently, 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, however it gained’t be sufficient to show the corporate’s fortunes round in China.
The Tesla Mannequin Y’s gross sales numbers will most likely be secure.
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