China Auto Thread

[Hamartia Antidote]

XPeng’s XNGP assisted driving system goes nationwide

XPeng today launched its XNGP driving assistance system nationwide in China. It's next step in complete A to Be self driving.

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[Hamartia Antidote]

And a cuddly car: meet the Wuling Bingo Mickey Plush Style

Wuling Bingo Mickey Plush Style. Small Chinese EV becomes a cuddly car thanks to a furry wrap.

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[The_Fat_Kid]

BYD Yuan UP to be unveiled in China on March 5

More details on the BYD Yuan UP to laund on March 5 in China. The car is a small electric crossover SUV.

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BYD Yuan UP to be unveiled in China on March 5​

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Mark Andrews

February 27, 2024


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BYD will officially unveil the Yuan UP on March 5 and the car will then be listed within March. The new car is the second model on the e-Platform 3.0 to carry the Yuan name, the first being the Yuan Plus. BYD currently split the core BYD brand into two ranges the Dynasty and Ocean series with each having their own sales network. With Yuan being the name given to the Mongol line of Emperors that ruled China between 1279 and 1368 the Yuan UP belongs to the Dynasty range.

The car itself is more a soft-roader than something for marauding the Mongolian steppe with its single motor setup and a range around 400 km. It is a crossover vehicle in the same kind of style first popularized by cars like the Kia Soul. However, the Yuan UP is a lot more curvy than many cars that follow this vogue.
Using the design language from the Song L the Yuan UP has what BYD refer to as a dragon face. There is a black trim plate which goes around the car. Unlike with the Yuan Plus there are semi-concealed door handles. The car also gains a floating roof thanks to the roof color not quite meeting the body on the D-pillar. With length, width and height of 4310/1830/1675 mm and a wheelbase of 2620 mm the body size is quite small. On the front the car uses the Yuan (元) character for the logo whereas at the back the car has BYD written in letters and thankfully not Build Your Dreams.


Inside the Yuan UP has a very light interior due to the panoramic roof and the effect is accentuated by the use of mixed colors. On some pictures they show the use of black and beige while on another car it uses pink, charcoal and light gray. The steering wheel also uses the Yuan symbol and the driver has an 8.8-inch digital instrument screen. There is also a centrally mounted 12.8-inch control screen which presumably is capable of rotating its orientation as with most BYD models. Drivers get an electrically adjustable seat. Thanks to the dedicated electric platform the floor in the back is flat making it comfortable for anyone sitting in the middle of the back bench.

It’s believed that there will be three variants but details before the launch are sparce. Power come from a choice of a 70 kW or 130 kW permanent magnet synchronous drive motor. Batteries are of course the Blade from BYD subsidiary FinDreams and there’s a choice of 32 and 45.1 kWh packs good for 301 or 401 km of range respectively. Price is expected to be around 100,000 yuan (13,900 USD).

Editor’s note:​

The Yuan UP looks as if it could be another hit for BYD. I have previously driven both the Yuan Plus and Dolphin and was impressed by how much car you got for your money. While the Yuan UP is not revolutionary in its design it is certainly attractive and should appeal to younger buyers.

 

[The_Fat_Kid]

New Zeekr 001 launched in China with 580 kW for 37,500 USD

New Zeekr 001 became a huge threat to high-end EVs in China with up to 580 kW, lots of tech inside, and a starting price of 37,500 USD.

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New Zeekr 001 launched in China with 580 kW for 37,500 USD​

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Denis Bobylev

February 27, 2024


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The new Zeekr 001 from Geely Group was launched in China with lots of enhancements compared to its predecessor. It has up to 580 kW, over 700 km range, advanced autonomous driving system, 28 speakers, etc. This car starts from 269,000 yuan (37,500 USD). Its deliveries will start on March 1.

Zeekr is a young Chinese brand under the Geely Group. It was launched in 2021 with the Zeekr 001 as the first model. Nowadays, its product line comprises four cars: 001 lifback, X crossover, 009 minivan, and 007 sedan. Cumulative sales of the Zeekr brand reached 160,996 units. Today, this brand launched the new Zeekr 001 to strengthen its market position.

Exterior and Interior of the new Zeekr 001​

At first sight, the new Zeekr 001 looks similar to its predecessor. However, its exterior styling was enhanced to match the Zeekr 001 FR four-motor beast launched last year. It has more aggressive bumpers, a LiDAR sensor on the roof, and a new rear spoiler. It also has a new body color called Olive Green. The Zeekr 001 boasts hefty dimensions of 4977/1999/1545 mm with a wheelbase of 3005 mm.


Inside, the new Zeekr 001 has more enhancements compared to the old model. It offers a new instrument cluster and a steering wheel, similar to the Zeekr 001 FR. Its interior color schemes were also revised. Moreover, Zeekr also enhanced the quality of textures used inside the car. Other updates are a seat vibrating function, a 15.6-inch screen that can turn left and right, a 35.5-inch augmented reality head-up display, and a Snapdragon 8295 chip.

The powertrain of the new Zeekr 001​

The new Zeekr 001 adopts the 800V platform. Thanks to this technology, it supports V2V charging with a peak power of 60 kW. It means the Zeekr 001 can charge another EV with the power of an average DC charging station. Moreover, this platform allowed Zeekr to boost the new 001’s power output. The Zeekr 001 with an LFP battery can charge 10-80% in 11.5 minutes, thanks to the 5C system. The ternary NMC pack can do the same in 15 minutes because of the 4C system. According to Zeekr, it can charge 256 km in 5 minutes.
The new Zeekr 001 adopts a 310-kW (416 hp) permanent magnet electric motor in the rear axle, borrowed from the Zeekr 001 FR. The 4WD model also has an asynchronous induction motor in the front axle for 270 kW (362 hp). The benefit of using this kind of e-motor in the front axle is the high energy efficiency during low-speed driving in traffic jams. On the other hand, the new Zeekr 001 can speed up to 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds. For comparison, the Nio ET7 sedan reaches the same speed in 3.9 seconds.

The new Zeekr 001 has two battery options:

• 95 kWh, LFP, 675 km range
• 100 kWh, ternary NMC, 705 – 750 km range (depending on the drive type)

Features of the new Zeekr 001​

Inside, this liftback has 28 Yamaha speakers for 3000 W instead of just eight speakers its predecessor had. Each headrest (except the center rear seat) has two integrated speakers. What is more, this acoustic system goes standard. Another feature of the Zeekr 001 is the color-changing panoramic roof with ten independent segments.

The Zeekr 001 is also equipped with electronically powered doors and double-chamber air suspension that enhance driving comfort. It also has a CDC continuous damping control system, which boosts the car’s handling. By the way, Zeekr is proud of the fact that the first Chinese F1 driver, Zhou Guanyu, helped adjust the car’s chassis. The new Zeekr 001 can be equipped with an electrically powered hitch. It has a towing capacity of 2 tons.
The Zeekr 001 also offers an advanced autonomous driving system that will support an advanced NZP city navigation system, AVP parking assist, and LCC system in Q2 this year. It is the result of Zeekr’s cooperation with Mobileye. This system will be available for free for customers who booked the Zeekr 001 before March 31.

The price range of the Zeekr 001​

The new Zeekr 001 is available in four trim levels:

• WE RWD 100 kWh – 269,000 yuan (37,500 USD)
• WE 4WD 95 kWh – 269,000 yuan (37,500 USD)
• ME 4WD 100 kWh – 299,000 yuan (41,700 USD)
• YOU 4WD 100 kWh – 329,000 yuan (45,800 USD)

Moreover, Zeekr offers a 10,000-yuan (1,400 USD) discount to customers who buy the new model before March 31. Previously, the Zeekr 001 with an 86 kWh battery pack started from 267,000 yuan (37,100 USD), including discounts. Bearing in mind lots of enhancements of this model, the new Zeekr 001 became a huge threat to every other high-end EV in the market, intensifying the fierce competition.
Source: Zeekr

 

[The_Fat_Kid]

Rumor mill in overdrive as HiPhi tries to keep moving

Rumors about HiPhi including that Huawei might buy the company. Also rumors of plagiarizing.

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Rumor mill in overdrive as HiPhi tries to keep moving​

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Mark Andrews

February 27, 2024


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HiPhi Y electric SUV car on display at the 2023 Shanghai Auto Show.

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HiPhi is currently in a fight for its life and rumors about the company’s past, present and future swirl around. The company has already stopped production ostensibly for six months but it is highly unlikely it will resume without a major change.

At an internal meeting earlier this month HiPhi CEO and founder Ding Lei confirmed the rumors surrounding HiPhi’s financial problems and apologized for not being able to beat the Internet with his old-fashioned business strategy. He said that the window for turning HiPhi around is at most three months, and he will actively strive for it, and is already carrying out financing matters.
This likely comes in two forms firstly and most optimistically finding a buyer for the company. The second is to simply find a company to take over the aftersales service and rights for existing owners of HiPhi cars.

A rumor began circulating a few days ago that Huawei was going to buy HiPhi to create a second Seres. Huawei has now responded to this saying it is fake news.
On February 23 HiPhi addressed various rumors in a live broadcast on Douyin, China’s TikTok. Yang Yueqing, engineering project director of HiPhi, said in the broadcast that the company’s senior management has not run away, and is still working hard for the company and all users.
Yang Yueqing in the broadcast addressing HiPhi rumors
The knives appear though to be out for HiPhi. Faraday Future founder and LeEco founder Jia Yueting wasted no time weighing in and calling HiPhi the shame of the industry and repeating accusations that the company stole the designs for the FF91 to produce the HiPhi X. It should be noted that Faraday Future only managed to deliver three FF91 cars after spending 3 billion USD over nine years.

Ding Lei once held an important position in LeTV Automobile (part of LeEco), and then left to found Human Horizons, and launch the HiPhi brand.
It seems Jia Yueting has not forgiven Ding Lei. Rumor has it that Ding Lei took the core team and the full set of FF 91 design data with him when he left LeEco, resulting in the appearance of the HiPhi X being highly similar to the FF 91 from Faraday Future.
HiPhi’s Yang Yueqing refuted the allegation in a broadcast saying “We did not copy anyone, all engineers, original manuscripts, drawings and patents are in Shanghai Pujiang Park.”
The Human Horizons HiPhi X pictured in Lujiazui, Pudong, Shanghai, China. The car is a new upmarket EV with the Tesla Model X in its sights.Exterior pictures of the HiPhi Z, an electric GT car from Chinese start-up Human Horizons, taken on a test drive in Shanghai.HiPhi Y electric SUV car on display at the 2023 Shanghai Auto Show.
HiPhi currently has three models on sale the dual flagship X and Z models along with the more mass market Y. Both the Z and Y only went on sale last year but sales of the Y particularly have disappointed. Sales in 2021 were 4,237 while in 2022 there was small increase to 4,349. With the two new models 2023 things should have been much better but sales are now known to have been 8,681.

Editor’s note:​

Huawei would have made a good buyer for HiPhi. One of HiPhi’s biggest product weaknesses is that they don’t have anything particularly convincing when it comes to ADAS. Huawei essentially provides a plug and play full stack system. There is still hope that another company may step in but the longer it takes the more likely it is that HiPhi production will never resume. Perhaps Jia Yueting should make an offer for the company and actually get some sales rather than complaining.
By the beginning of March only 1 store out of 6 will remain open in Beijing and other cities are seeing similar closures. However, many might say that is one too many as it would take a very brave buyer to purchase a HiPhi today with such uncertainty over the company’s future. Chinese sources show that you can currently pick up a HiPhi Z for around half the list price.

 

[The_Fat_Kid]

Huawei aims to push the boundaries of EV charging: 1km per second of charging

1 second of charging per km sounds amazing.

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Huawei aims to push the boundaries of EV charging: 1km per second of charging​

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Naveed Rastegar

February 28, 2024


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On February 27th, Huawei held its annual China Digital Energy Partner Conference, where its directors shared their vision and ambitions for electric vehicle charging. During the conference, Huawei’s President of Digital Energy, Hou Jinlong, stated that all EVs would soon transition to high-voltage charging to achieve remarkable charging speeds and provide a fueling-like experience. Last year, the tech giant announced an increased focus on EV sales and partnerships with other tech giants engaged in the auto industry.

The highlight of the director’s presentation was Huawei’s aim to expand its charging network as well as increase charging speeds, with the aim of 1 km per second of charging. Noting that “this feat can revolutionize the EV charging industry and eliminate range anxiety for EV owners.” Hou Jinlong projected a significant increase in EV ownership over the next decade, creating a surge in charging demand. To address this demand, Huawei aims to deliver ultra-fast charging speeds. Stating, “Historically, slow charging speeds and limited charging infrastructure have hindered widespread EV adoption.”
Huawei hina Digital Energy Partner Conference 2024
While the cost of ultra-fast charging equipment has been a concern for some charging station operators, Huawei emphasizes the focus should be on the cost per kilowatt-hour rather than the initial capital expenditure (CAPEX). By investing in battery safety technology and optimizing the charging process, Huawei ensures a secure and efficient charging experience for EV owners, further enhancing the appeal of their charging stations.

Huawei recently introduced its liquid-cooled ultra-fast charging station to address the need for high-speed charging. With a maximum output power of 600 kW and a maximum current of 600A, this charging station can achieve an approximate charging speed of one kilometer per second. The charging station supports a wide range of electric vehicles, including popular models from brands such as Nio, Tesla, Xpeng, and Li Auto, as well as commercial vehicles and cargo trucks. Huawei plans to “take the lead in deploying more than 100,000 liquid-cooled stations in more than 340 cities and major highways in China.”

The power grid faces significant challenges as the demand for electricity from charging networks continues to rise. However, Huawei sees integrating renewable energy generation, energy storage, and charging infrastructure as a viable solution. This integration will enable bidirectional energy flow, allowing vehicle owners to charge their cars and sell excess energy back to the grid. Stating that “such integration fosters the development of new business models and further propels the EV and charging network growth.”

 

[The_Fat_Kid]

BYD launches 2024 Han sedan and Tang SUV 14% cheaper than previous version

Han EV finally updated to 800V charging.

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BYD launches 2024 Han sedan and Tang SUV 14% cheaper than previous version​

Reading Time: 6 minutes

Jiri Opletal

February 28, 2024


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BYD Tang DM-i Honor Edition. Credit: BYD

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Update: BYD claimed that Han updated to 800V architecture, but the 2023 Han had 600V charging, and the 2024 was updated to 620V. Battery volt range 600V-900V is considered 800V architecture, so technically, the 2023 Han already had an 800V system.

BYD launched the 2024 update of its flagship sedan, Han, and SUV, Tang. Both cars belong to the Dynasty series. Three versions of Han were launched: all-electric Han EV, plug-in hybrid Han DM-i, and AWD plug-in hybrid Han DM-p. The BYD Tang launched one version, a plug-in hybrid Tang DM-i.
The main changes are adding a new DiPilot 100 ADAS to the top trim level of Han EV and updating it to 620V charging (800V system), according to BYD. Its peak charging power increases from 200A and 120 kW to 250A and 155 kW, respectively. The new Han EV can now charge 30-80% in 25 minutes.

BYD Han EV with 800V charging. Credit: BYD
The 2024 annual update is called Honor Edition, so the new Han’s and Tang’s full names are BYD Han Honor Edition and BYD Tang Honor Edition, respectively. The EV, DM-i, and DM-p suffixes indicate if the car is BEV, PHEV, or AWD PHEV.
BYD Han and Tang Honor Edition launch. Credit: BYD

Han EV Honor Edition​

The Han EV Honor Edition starts at 179,800 yuan (25,000 USD), 14% down from the previous version – the BYD Han Champion Edition – priced at 209,800 yuan (29,100 USD) upon launch. Most of the 2023 updates were called Champion Edition by BYD. Interestingly, BYD is speeding up its annual refresh cycle as the 2023 Han version launched in May and the 2024 version already in February.
Han EV’s top trim is called “Eye of God,” so the full name is BYD Han EV Honor Edition Eye of God. Good job, BYD. Naming aside, it features BYD’s ADAS DiPilot 100, powered by Horizon Journey 5 chip, and brings intelligent parking and highway autopilot.

The new Han EV Honor Edition offers four trims in the 179,800 – 249,800 yuan price range:

• 506 km range: 179,800 yuan (25,000 USD)
• 605 km range: 199,800 yuan (27,800 USD)
• 715 km range: 219,800 yuan (30,600 USD)
• 610 km range AWD Eye of God (EoG): 249,800 yuan (34,700 USD)

The Han EV Honor Edition dimensions are unchanged (L/W/H) 4995/1910/1495 mm with a wheelbase of 2,920 mm. Based on trim level, it offers motor power of 150 kW (201 hp), 168 kW (225 hp), and 180 kW (241 hp), each with a peak torque of 310 Nm, 350 Nm, and 350 Nm respectively.
The dual-motor AWD EoG version has a combined output of 380 kW (510 hp) and 700 Nm peak torque. It is also equipped with various sensors, such as 5 millimeter wave radars, 12 ultrasonic radars, and 11 cameras, which send input into its DiPilot 100 ADAS. It is powered by a Horizon Journey 5 chip with 128 TOPS computing power.
BYD Han EV Honor Edition

Han DM-i Honor Edition​

The plugin-hybrid (PHEV) Han DM-i Honor Edition starts at 169,800 yuan (23,600 USD), 11% lower than the Han DM-i Champion Edition, launched at 189,800 yuan (26,400 USD) in May 2023.
With the significant price cut, BYD signalizes it is not afraid to accelerate this year’s price war again. When Han DM-i Champion Edition launched in 2023, it was 28,000 yuan (3,900 USD) cheaper than the previous 2022 version. With the recent 20,000 yuan haircut, Han DM-i reduced its starting price by 48,000 yuan (6,700 USD) in two years.
The new PHEV Han DM-i Honor Edition offers five trims in the 169,800 – 225,800 yuan price range:

• 121 km range: 169,800 yuan (23,600 USD)
• 121 km range: 179,800 yuan (25,000 USD)
• 121 km range: 189,800 yuan (26,400 USD)
• 121 km range: 199,800 yuan (27,800 USD)
• 200 km range: 225,800 yuan (30,600 USD)

Han DM-i dimensions remain unchanged at 4975/1910/1495 mm, and the wheelbase is 2920mm. Based on trim level, the single electric motor has 145 kW (195 hp) or 162 kW (217 hp) power and is mated by 1.5T ICE, which provides a maximum power of 102 kW. (137 hp).
BYD Han DM-i Honor Edition

Han DM-p Honor Edition​

The third version of the Han is the flagship version sitting on BYD’s DM-p platform, which is dedicated to all-wheel drive PHEVs. It is thus called Han DM-p Honor Edition. The AWD flagship has only one trim, which is priced at 259,800 yuan (36,100 USD), down 30,000 yuan (4,200 USD) from the Han DM-p Champion Edition launched in 2023 for 289,800 yuan (40,300 USD).
Price reduction for Han DM-p is also nothing new. When the Champion Edition was launched last year, it was 32,000 yuan (4,500 USD) cheaper than the 2022 version, which was priced at 321,800 yuan (44,700 USD).
2024 Han DM-p has an unchanged powertrain with dual motors. The rear has a maximum power of 200 kW while the front is 160 kW, providing a total output of 360 kW (496 hp) and 675 Nm peak torque. Those are mated with the same 1.5T ICE as lower trims.

Tang DM-i Honor Edition​

The new plug-in hybrid SUV Tang DM-i Honor Edition starts at 179,800 yuan (25,000 USD), 14% down from the previous version – the BYD Tang DM-i Champion Edition – priced at 209,800 yuan (29,100 USD) upon launch in May 2023.
The Tang DM-i Honor Edition offers four trims in the 179,800 – 219,800 yuan price range:

• 112 km range: 179,800 yuan (25,000 USD)
• 112 km range: 189,800 yuan (26,400 USD)
• 112 km range: 199,800 yuan (27,800 USD)
• 200 km range: 219,800 yuan (30,600 USD)

Tang DM-i is a 5-door 7-seater with dimensions of 4870/1950/1725 mm, and the wheelbase is 2820mm. A 50W smartphone wireless charging pad is inside the car, and the front seats have a massage function. The PHEV is equipped with DiLink cabin software. All trims have a 160 kW (214 hp) electric motor in front with 325 nM peak torque. The e-motor is mated with 1.5T ICE with 102 kW of power.
BYD Tang DM-i Honor Edition.
Here is the table summarizing the changes in the price at the launch:

	Han EV	Han DM-i	Han DM-p	Tang DM-i
2023 price (yuan)	209,800	189,800	289,800	209,800
2024 price (yuan)	179,800	169,800	259,800	179,800
Price change %	-14%	-11%	-10%	-14%
Price change (yuan)	-30,000	-20,000	-30,000	-30,000
Price change (USD)	-4,200 USD	-2,800 USD	-4,200 USD	-4,200 USD

Editor’s comment​

That is another wrinkle for Lei Jun, as the pressure on Xiaomi SU7 pricing is mounting. BYD is signaling to the market that it has deep pockets enough to send all its 2024 models into the price war. Moreover, the advantage of vertical integration is also doing its job. There are currently 100 EV makers in China, and many of them will start losing wheels in 2024 as even with fair enough product and great tech inside, you can sell at a loss only for a limited amount of time, especially if you are a small EV startup.
Also, slow DC charging has always been one of the drawbacks for the Shenzhen-based automaker, so it is good to see some improvement in this area.

 

[The_Fat_Kid]

Will Changan buy HiPhi?

Chang'an is reportedly talking to HiPhi about a possible takeover. Internet sources claim a 51% stake.

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Will Changan buy HiPhi?​

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Mark Andrews

February 28, 2024


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Yesterday Huawei wasn’t buying HiPhi but today Changan is the new suitor for the troubled car company and this time there’s a lot more credibility in the story. Ding Lei, CEO and founder of HiPhi paid a visit a few days ago to Changan, presumably the headquarters in Chongqing.

Previously Ding Lei has said that there is only a three month window to turnaround HiPhi as a going concern and he has reportedly been working tirelessly to achieve this, having little sleep. Earlier this month HiPhi announced that it was ceasing production for 6 months and that employees remaining with the company after March 15 would be paid only the minimum salary dictated by Shanghai regulations.
Empty office at HiPhi’s Shanghai headquarters
Internet rumors claim that Changan will buy a 51% stake in HiPhi and that together with cash injections from Qingdao and Saudi Arabia it will be enough to shore up the books of the company to keep HiPhi going as a brand.

Zhu Huarong, chairman of Changan Automobile, responded to media questions saying, “We are talking, and we are far from ‘proper’.”
HiPhi CEO Ding Lei (left) talks to Changan Chairman Zhu Huarong (middle) while standing between HiPhi x and Z models.
An insider at Changan confirmed that Ding Lei and his team visited Changan but said the Internet rumors were not true. “They did hope that Changan would consider acquisition at this time, but the acquisition ratio and details reported on the Internet are fake, it is impossible to finalize such details in one trip,” said the unnamed insider.
During the Changan visit inspections of the respective brands cars and test drives were undertaken.

HiPhi CEO Ding Lei being shown around Changan headquarters.
On February 22 HiPhi released the “Announcement on Recent Service Operation Guarantee” on its official App. HiPhi said that during this period it was prioritizing user’s service operation, vehicle after-sales maintenance and other related work. However work on HiPhi’s charging infrastructure is suspended this includes operation of existing chargers, the installation of new chargers, and the use of the charging app (including free charging) with it set to recommence only when follow-up resources are in place.
Changan is a large state-owned enterprise which has largely been known for sales of what Chinese refer to as bread vans (mianbaoche), minivans to the rest of us. The company also currently has joint ventures with Ford and Mazda. In recent years it has started having some success with its own brands of new energy vehicles. These consist of Changan Nevo for the lower priced segment, Deepal for more mid-range and Avatr as a premium brand. It should be noted that the price of Avatr models are nowhere near as high as HiPhi.

Editor’s note:​

Changan with its NEV brands is gaining ground and is a company that despite high sales as a auto producer has never really got much notice. That thanks to NEVs is beginning to change. The Avatr range in particular has made waves. HiPhi would not be completely out of place under Changan stewardship.
Avatr uses Huawei’s system for its autonomous driving which is an area that HiPhi never seems to have seriously tackled. As I mentioned yesterday HiPhi cars getting the Huawei tech would make them far more appealing.

 

[The_Fat_Kid]

Apple may have cancelled the iCar but Chery hasn’t

Apple iCar is dead but the Chery iCar 03 launched today. New EV range with high hopes and plans to sell 10,000 a month.

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Apple may have cancelled the iCar but Chery hasn’t​

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Mark Andrews

February 28, 2024


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It’s either apples or cherries when it comes to the iCar. The day after Apple in the US announced it was ceasing work on the so called iCar, Chery in China launched the iCar 03. And while Apple lost confidence Chery seems to think it can sell 10,000 a month.

Perhaps the biggest news is the price which is down significantly from the 129,800-185,800 yuan (18,000-25,800 USD) level when pre-sales began. There are six versions of the iCar 03 priced as follows:
Standard RWD 109,800 yuan (15,250 USD)

Advanced RWD 119,800 yuan (16,650 USD)
Long-range RWD 129,800 yuan (18,050 USD)
Long-range AWD 139,800 yuan (19,400 USD)

Long-range advanced AWD 159,800 yuan (22,200 USD)
Long-range intelligent-driving AWD 169,800 yuan (23,600 USD)
Pictures from the iCar 03 launch event
The iCar 03 adopts an all-aluminum multi-chamber cage body structure. Length, width and height of the new car are 4406/1910/1715 mm, and the wheelbase is 2715 mm. It is available with either 18 or 19 inch wheels. Buyers can choose from six paint colors: white, black, gray, silver, blue, and green.
Chinese media are aptly referring to the storage box on the back as a school bag. In line with proper off roaders the tail door is side opening and has electric suction closing.
All models come equipped with automatic headlights, automatic wipers, the rear external storage, roof rack, electronic parking brake, 6-way electric seat for the driver, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, tire pressure monitoring, ESP, 15.6-inch central control screen, and 8 speaker sound system.

Mid-range models add folding side mirrors, 1.2 meters square panoramic sunroof, NFC key, 50W wireless charging, panoramic image, electric suction trunk door, Qualcomm 8155 chip to control the in car features, dashcam.
The high-end versions gain a heated steering wheel, seat heating, memory function, electric passenger seat, side curtain airbags, 12 speaker sound system, 64-color ambient lighting, driver’s seat massage and ventilation, passenger electric leg rest, DJI intelligent driving.
High end versions will have a camera based L2+ intelligent driving assistance system. It will allow route memory, highway NOA (navigation on autopilot), intelligent parking and some other functions.
The single motor version provides 135 kW (184 hp) to the rear axle with peak torque of 220 Nm. Meanwhile the four-wheel drive version has a maximum power of 205 kW (279 hp), a peak torque of 385 Nm, and is good for a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 6.5 seconds
Outside the launch venue Chery displayed some modified versions of the iCar 03.
Modified iCar 03 versions on display

Chery picked plan​

At the press conference Zhang Hongyu, deputy general manager of Chery Automobile Co., Ltd. and general manager of the iCAR brand division, said that Chery was targeting both sales of 10,000 a month and a 10,000 yuan (1,400 USD) profit on each car. Also mentioned at the press conference was that iCar would sell other categories of cars and not just SUVs with more to be announced at the Beijing Auto Show. Certainly at last’s year’s Shanghai Show there was an iCar GT concept shown.
Zhang Hongyu said “We plan to launch 2-3 new models to the market every year, 2 cars in 2024, and 3 or 4 cars in 2025, which are all new cars and new categories of models created by a new platform.”
Chery officials take questions about the iCar brand and iCar 03
Specifically Chery will unveil three new iCar series models at the Chery Brand Night at the Beijing Auto Show. Then the second iCar model, with the internal codename VR3, will be unveiled and go on pre-sale at the Guangzhou Auto Show in November before being officially launched in December.
Chery plans to open iCar dealerships in 100 cities in March focussing on second and third tier cities and it will be using shopping malls and exhibition halls to attract customers.

 

[The_Fat_Kid]

Updated Aion Hyper GT now equipped with level 3 intelligent driving tech

The Hyper GT 3L version will be driving itself pretty soon.

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Updated Aion Hyper GT now equipped with level 3 intelligent driving tech​

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Naveed Rastegar

February 29, 2024


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GAC Group, one of the leading automakers in China, has launched the Aion Hyper GT intelligent driving 3L version. The level 3 intelligent driving upgrades are the main difference between this model and its predecessors. Priced at 259,900 yuan (36,900 USD), the new electric sedan has several noteworthy features and advancements. The Hyper GT was initially launched last year with mixed reviews.

The Hyper GT in Guangzhou
The new Aion Hyper GT 3L is equipped with three laser radar sensors and has undergone testing for autonomous driving capabilities on the intelligent connected vehicle demonstration road in Guangzhou. The vehicle’s hardware includes up to 34 driving sensors, including three laser radar sensors. The three-laser radar setup comprises 1200-degree environmental perception, centimeter-level point cloud imaging, and infrared life protection technology. The vehicle has 12 cameras, six millimeter-wave radars, and one infrared night vision camera. The Aion Hyper GT also features the MDC610 chip, which “incorporates unique deep-learning control algorithms to handle complex road scenarios, such as crowded urban streets with high pedestrian and vehicle traffic.”
The Hyper GT scissor doors
The Aion Hyper GT’s L3-level autonomous driving capability “prioritizes user safety as a prerequisite.” Before achieving the “hands-off, feet-off, eyes-off” experience, Aion emphasizes that safety is paramount. Built on the Xingling architecture, the vehicle offers eight redundant systems and a five-tier monitoring system, providing redundancy assurance for vehicle intelligent driving controllers, driving, perception, braking, steering, power supply, communication, parking, and positioning.

In terms of power, the Aion Hyper GT high-end intelligent driving 3L version is equipped with a pure electric drivetrain capable of achieving a range of up to 710 kilometers. Thanks to the 800V high-voltage platform technology, the vehicle claims to gain an additional 450 kilometers of range with just 15 minutes of charging. The e-motor produces 340 hp and 430 Nm of torque while accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds.

While current regulations and technological conditions are insufficient to support the implementation and application of L3-level autonomous driving, the Aion Hyper GT intelligent driving 3L version is already equipped with the necessary hardware. GAC Group plans to introduce L3 functionality in accordance with national regulations and relevant permits in the future.
GAC Group’s subsidiary, GAC Aion, aims to be at the forefront of intelligent driving by accelerating the implementation and popularization of intelligent driving technologies in the new Hyper GT with its NDA (New Driving Architecture) technology. The company plans to launch the NDA function in selected cities in April and strives to achieve L4-level intelligent driving by 2025.

According to reports, Aion plans to promote the Hyper GT heavily in March, and those purchasing the vehicle by March 31st can access lifetime free charging available throughout China.
Source: HaoYiChe

 

[The_Fat_Kid]

IM L6 to launch in May, solid state battery gives 1000 km range

More details emerge about the electric IM L6 from SAIC destined for South America and Europe.

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IM L6 to launch in May, solid state battery gives 1000 km range​

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Mark Andrews

February 29, 2024


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SAIC's IM L6. Credit: MIIT

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After debuting earlier this week at the Geneva Motor Show more details are emerging about the IM L6 thanks to government department information. It’s now believed that the fourth model from SAIC brand IM Motors will officially launch in May. Sales in South America and Europe will likely being in 2025.

The length, width and height of the new car are 4931/1960/1474 mm, and the wheelbase is 2950mm. Weight is 2040 kg for the rear wheel drive version and 2250 kg for the all-wheel drive performance version. The rear wheel drive car gets a 250 kW electric motor whereas performance versions swaps that out for a 379 kW motor and add a 200 kW motor to the front axle.
At launch the car will come with a choice 90 or 100 kWh ternary lithium (NCM) battery packs from CATL. The smaller pack gives the rear wheel drive version a 720 km CLTC range and the all-wheel drive 700 km whereas the 100 kWh battery gives 770 km and 750 km respectively. IM however spoke at Geneva about a version gaining a solid state battery. This they claim will provide over 800 km (WLTP) range or 1000 km CLTC.


At the back the car has an upturned ducktail type rear and the car may actually be more of a hatchback than a pure sedan. Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) listing information shows that the car really does use the half-spoke yoke steering wheel and that the car will have a choice of four different wheels. Higher spec versions will gain roof mounted Lidar.
MIIT listing picture showing variations of the IM L6
Weibo (China’s Twitter equivalent) posts by Liu Tao, the CEO of IM, have led Chinese media to believe the driving capabilities or the L6 will be a major selling point. They expect the car to come with self-adjusting damping and have rear-wheel steering and the ability to do tank turns like the Yangwang U8. Speculations also lies around the car’s self-driving capability after IM Motors obtained L3 autonomous driving test permits in Shanghai.

In December 2023 highway NOA (navigation on autopilot) went live for highways in 333 cities nationwide. Urban NOA will gradually be rolled out in the first half of this year.

Editor’s note:​

The IM brand has not been a major success for SAIC with sales last year of 38,253 cars. Given the highly competitive nature of the Chinese NEV market place this is not surprising. IM now going overseas is an obvious attempt to turn the fortunes of the brand around. The simple fact, though, is that SAIC has too many brands. Currently they have Roewe, MG, Rising, Maxus and IM without even counting Wuling. The only one of these with any major difference to the others appears to be IM and it remains to be seen whether when going overseas IM cars will simply be rebadged as MG models as has been done with vehicles from Roewe, Rising and in come cases Maxus.
There is a huge question mark over the solid state battery which IM mentioned at Geneva. Firstly it is not included in the MIIT information so indicating it may be some time off. Nio famously started talking about a semi-solid state battery back in 2022 and said it would deliver that year, now two years later it looks as if we might finally see it. Then there is the factor of cost, the Nio battery is apparently so expensive it is only offered as a short term rental, will IM be able to offer such a battery at an affordable cost to consumers?

 

[The_Fat_Kid]

XPeng’s XNGP assisted driving system goes nationwide

XPeng today launched its XNGP driving assistance system nationwide in China. It's next step in complete A to Be self driving.

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XPeng’s XNGP assisted driving system goes nationwide​

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Mark Andrews

February 29, 2024


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XPeng's XNGP goes nationwide

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Today XPeng announced that its XNGP intelligent assisted driving system would be available to all XPeng users with intelligent driving experience.

The system has gone though a number of iterations having started as Highway NGP on the XPeng P7 in 2021. At that time the system was restricted to driving the car on highways where there was high precision mapping. The Lidar equipped XPeng P5 in 2022 introduced City NGP initially to just Guangzhou which allowed assisted driving on urban roads which had been mapped. Last year saw the more advanced XNGP system debut on the XPeng P7i and G9. Initially only working in Guangzhou, Shanghai and Shenzhen the system allowed a better degree of self-driving ability in mapped areas and across the country offered lane centering cruise control (LCC) which could stop and start the car at a traffic light but not undertake a left or right turn. Since the system went live in April last year XPeng has been adding more cities.
When launched XNGP was still map dependent but XPeng has now moved away from this meaning that the rollout can be much faster giving coverage to most of the country. Up until today’s announcement the system was available in 243 Chinese cities. Compared with the high-definition map based system, the map-free XNGP no longer requires high-definition maps which means both costs and the time to add areas is greatly reduced. Supposedly efficiency is up 384 times and the fastest start to end time with adding a new area is 1 to 2 days.


Currently the system covers 569,000 kilometers of roads and actual vehicle mileage has exceeded 3.7 million kilometers. XPeng say the accident rate is only a tenth of the level of human driving. With the highway element the number of takeovers is down to 1 in every 2000 km. Furthermore the average speed for vehicles using the highway part of NGP has increased by 13%. The user penetration rate for the highway NGP element is 94.7% while for the city portion it is 83.2% with 40% of overall mileage by cars being undertaken by the system.
It should be noted that Huawei is pushing similar driving capabilities nationwide and Li Auto is also at an advanced stage.
XPeng with its announcement on Weibo unveiled a number of traditional Chinese themed poster featuring its cars.

Complete coverage soon?​

During Chinese New Year XPeng showed a video of a test car using XNGP in a village. The road was not wide enough for two cars to pass each other and the test car managed to safely navigate its way around with other road users. This included going when another car waited for it and equally waiting at another point for another car. There was also a very tight corner with vision blocked by a wall and the car successfully navigated this.

XNGP is currently only available in China. NGP will be launched in other markets this year before XNGP going global in 2025.

Editor’s note:​

I have had mixed success with the city portion of XNGP. In Shanghai in a P7i it worked well but in Guangzhou in a G6 it did not. It seems however that XPeng is taking a continual improvement approach to the system and the video from the village shows an impressive level of driving. XNGP is available on all Lidar equipped Max versions of XPeng cars.

 

[The_Fat_Kid]

BYD Song Pro DM-i launched in China 15% cheaper than before

The BYD Song Pro DM-i Honor Edition has a new black body color, 1090 km mixed range, and a starting price of 15,300 USD in China.

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BYD Song Pro DM-i launched in China 15% cheaper than before​

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Denis Bobylev

March 1, 2024


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The BYD Song Pro DM-i Honor Edition plug-in hybrid crossover was launched in China with a mixed range of up to 1090 km and a fuel consumption of 4.4 L/100km. Its price was sliced by 20,000 yuan (2,800 USD) as BYD aims to rival petrol-powered cars in the domestic market. The Song Pro DM-i starts from 109,800 yuan (15,300 USD).

Main changes of the BYD Song Pro DM-i​

The BYD Song Pro DM-i Honor Edition has a new front grille with a scale pattern. It is a part of the BYD’s latest “Dragon Face” design language. Previously, the BYD Tang DM-i got a similar front-end styling. Dimensions of the BYD Song Pro DM-i remained unchanged at 4738/1860/1710 mm with a wheelbase of 2712 mm. Another worth noting detail is the black body color.

The interior of the Song Pro DM-i Honor Edition hasn’t changed much. The top-trim level vehicle has a 15.6-inch rotatable screen, an LCD instrument cluster for 8.8 inches, heated and ventilated seats, and nine speakers.


The powertrain of the BYD Song Pro DM-i comprises a 1.5-liter turbocharged ICE for 81 kW. It is paired with a 145-kW electric motor and E-CVT. The entry-level Song Pro DM-i Honor Edition has a 12.9-kWh LFP battery for 59 km of electric WLTC range (71 km NEDC). There is a bigger battery variant with a capacity of 18.3 inches for 85 km of WLTC range (110 km NEDC) without activating the petrol-powered engine. The mixed range of this version reaches 1090 km (NEDC).

Price reduction of the BYD Song Pro DM-i​

The BYD Song Pro DM-i Honor Edition is offered in five trim levels within a price range of 109,800 – 139,800 yuan (15,300 – 19,400 USD).

• BYD Song Pro DM-i Honor Edition 71KM Pilot – 109,800 yuan (15,300 USD)
• BYD Song Pro DM-i Honor Edition 71KM Leading – 115,800 yuan (16,100 USD)
• BYD Song Pro DM-i Honor Edition 71KM Transcend – 122,800 yuan (17,100 USD)
• BYD Song Pro DM-i Honor Edition 110KM Transcend – 129,800 yuan (18,000 USD)
• BYD Song Pro DM-i Honor Edition 110KM Excellent – 139,800 yuan (19,400 USD)

Previously, BYD sold Song Pro DM-i Champion Edition with a price range of 129,800 – 159,800 yuan (18,000 – 22,200 USD). This means the price of this SUV was cut by 20,000 yuan (2,800 USD) for each trim level. Worth noting that in two years, the Song Pro DM-i became 26,000 yuan (3,600 USD) cheaper. This reduction is mainly caused by the fierce competition in the Chinese market and the ambitions of BYD to take the share of petrol-powered cars.

Source: BYD

 

[The_Fat_Kid]

Li Auto Mega enters Chinese market with a starting price of 77,800 USD

Li Mega launched in China with 520 kW charging power, 710 km of range and a starting price of 77,800 USD. Deliveries will start on March 11.

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Li Auto Mega enters Chinese market with a starting price of 77,800 USD​

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Denis Bobylev

March 1, 2024


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The Li Auto Mega large MPV launched in China with a 710 km range, a 10-80% charging speed in 10 minutes, and a starting price of 559,800 yuan (77,800 USD). It is the first electric vehicle from Li Auto with lots of tech on board. Deliveries of the Mega will start on March 11.

Li Auto Mega exterior​

Li Auto Mega is a large vehicle with a futuristic styling. It has a sloped bonnet line that merges into the A-pillars. Other features of the exterior are a sleek roofline, hidden door handles, a LiDAR on the roof, and sliding rear doors. Thanks to its exterior design, the Mega has a drag coefficient of 0.215 Cd. It is better than the Porsche Taycan number of 0.220 Cd. So, the Li Auto Mega currently has the best aerodynamics among multi-purpose vehicles.
As mentioned, the Mega is a huge car which boasts hefty dimensions of 5350/1965/1850 mm with a wheelbase of 3300 mm. For clarity, it is just 20 mm shorter than the Mercedes-Benz V-Class. It rides on 245/60 R18 wheels. Four body colors are available for the Mega.

Li Auto Mega interior​

Inside, the Li Auto Mega has seven seats with a 2+2+3 layout. Its center console has the Li Auto signature screen arrangement with two 15.7-inch monitors, a thin touch screen on the steering wheel, and a large AR-HUD. The heads-up display can project the image from the side-view cameras. This multimedia system is powered by the Snapdragon 8295P SoC from Qualcomm.
The first and second-row seats of the Mega have a 16-point massage function. The driver’s seat supports adjustable hardness of the cushion and side support. Other features of the interior are 21 speakers, two 50 W wireless phone charging pads, a 17-inch screen for the second-row passengers, a refrigerator, and folding tables for the second-row passengers. Each seat of the Li Auto Mega has a heating function, except the middle seat in the third row.

Li Auto Mega autonomous driving and safety​

The Li Auto Mega is equipped with the AD Max autonomous driving system that comprises two Nvidia Orin-X chips with a combined computing power of 508 TOPS. It also has a LiDAR sensor from Hesai, 11 cameras, 12 ultrasonic radars, and a millimeter wave radar. Thanks to the advanced hardware, the Li Auto Mega supports full-scenario Navigation on Autopilot (NOA) system. It can drive on its own on urban roads and highways. The driver, though, still needs to monitor the process.

In case the car gets into the incident, it is equipped with nine airbags. Its torsional rigidity reaches an impressive number of 44,000 Nm/degree.

Li Auto Mega powertrain and battery​

The Li Auto Mega has two electric motors with a combined peak power of 400 kW. It has the synchronous permanent magnet e-motor in the rear axle for 245 kW and the asynchronous induction motor in the front for 155 kW. The combined torque of the system is 542 Nm. Thanks to this power output, the 2.7-ton Mega speeds up to 100 km/h in 5.5 seconds. The top speed is limited to 180 km. Another benefit of this system is an energy consumption of 15.9 kWh/100km.
The main feature of the Li Mega is the Qilin 5C ternary NMC battery from CATL on board. Its cell cycle life was enhanced by over 50%. It has a capacity of 102.7 kWh, good for 710 km of CLTC range (575 km WLTC). The rated charging power of the Mega reaches 400 kW, while the peak charging power is over 520 kW. As a result, it can charge 10%-80% in 10 minutes.
Li Auto officially announced that their 5C supercharging stations started operating. By the end of 2024, Li plans to launch 2,000 5C chargers across China.
The Li Auto Mega adopts front double wishbone and rear five-link suspension, dual-chamber air springs, and CDC dampers. Its suspension height can be adjusted by 70 mm.

Li Auto Mega price​

The Li Auto Mega is available in a single trim level for 559,800 yuan (77,800 USD). In China, it will compete with Hongqi HQ9, Zeekr 009, Voyah Dream, and Denza D9. The deliveries of the Li Auto Mega are scheduled for March 11.
Source: Li Auto, Autohome

 

[The_Fat_Kid]

Now one of China’s cheapest cars, the Changan Lumin gets a discount and 6.1 seconds acceleration

Mini EV Changan Lumin gets a discount in China making it one of China's cheapest cars.

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Now one of China’s cheapest cars, the Changan Lumin gets a discount and 6.1 seconds acceleration​

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Mark Andrews

March 1, 2024


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Changan Lumin gets discount in China

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The Changan Lumin is one of a number of micro EV cars produced in China. The class was first popularized by the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV. Since then a slew of competitors have appeared. Unlike the Chery QQ Ice Cream and Geely Panda mini EV and a number of other clones the Changan Lumin looks genuinely different to the Wuling car.

Prices now start from 37,900 yuan (5,250 USD) with discounts for the 2024 range varying according to the model up to a maximum of 12,000 yuan (1,650 USD). Surprisingly the largest discount (12,000 yuan, 1,650 USD) is on the cheapest version, the 155 km range Sweet version with the 210 km Sweet version only receiving an 8,000 yuan (1,100 USD) discount. These two cars only have slow charging. For the two models with fast charging the discount is less generous. The 205 km range Fragrant and 301 km Honey version gets only 5,000 yuan (700 USD) off the sticker price. All versions bar the 155 km Sweet seem to also get a free charger worth 3,288 yuan (450 USD).
Dimensions are a diminutive 3270/1700/1545 mm (l/w/h), and the wheelbase is 1980 mm with the car riding on a dedicated EPA0 all-electric platform. The two more expensive models get a 35 kW motor on the front axle with torque of 87 Nm. Battery capacity for the 205 km range Fragrant is a 17.65 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery while the Honey gets a 28.08 kWh pack. All cars have a slow charger in the left wing while the Fragrant and Honey gain an extra port in the right wing for the fast charger. Sweet versions have a less powerful 30 kW motor. The 155 km Sweet has a 12.92 kWh pack while the 210 km gains a 17.65 kWh lithium iron phosphate pack.


The fastest of the range is meant to be the Fragrant which has an acceleration time of 6.1 seconds, the Honey is 6.2 seconds while the Sweet versions are 6.5. However, what you need to know about these cars is that top speed is set at 101 km/h and so that acceleration figure is actually 0-50 km/h. You would actually be lucky to hit 100 in one of these.
Compared to the competition the Changan Lumin looks more like a Japanese Kei car with a far more rounded look than the likes of the Mini EV. It rides on 14-inch wheels. Inside the car is surprisingly high tech with not only a 7-inch digital instrument screen but a 10.25-inch infotainment unit as well. There is even a voice assistant. Colored inserts make the car’s interior quite lively. The Lumin has been a relatively successful model for Changan with sales of 140,800 in 2023 – 77% of customers are women.