China Auto Thread

[Yommie]

2024 BYD Dolphin Mini (Seagull) starts at 9,700 USD in China

BYD's electric city car revised at a lower price

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2024 BYD Dolphin Mini (Seagull) starts at 9,700 USD in China​

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Adrian Leung

March 6, 2024


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BYD’s entry-level all-electric 5-door hatchback, the Dolphin Mini (Seagull) added a new edition to the mix in Mainland China. It is called the Honor Edition. It launched with a starting price of 69,800 yuan (9,700 USD). 4,000 yuan (555 USD) lower than the Dolphin Mini’s initial launch in April last year.

Following the success of the BYD Dolphin in overseas markets, BYD renamed the Seagull as the Dolphin Mini for the South American launch. The BYD Dolphin Mini gained the nickname “Lamborghini-mini” not only because of its looks but Wolfgang Egger, the former Lamborghini designer’s involvement with the project. The Dophine Mini is targeted at younger consumers in day-to-day city conditions.

As part of BYD’s series of ocean-themed vehicles, the Dolphin Mini Honor Edition introduces colors called “Ice Blue” exterior and an interior color scheme called “Sea Blue.”

The Dolphin Mini Honor Edition will deliver 55 kW of power and a torque of 135 Nm. The car uses two batteries and provides two range options: 305 km and 405 km (CLTC), with battery capacities of 30.08 kWh and 38.88 kWh respectively. It is built with BYD’s Blade Battery that utilizes lithium iron phosphate chemistry upon an e-Platform 3.0.

It is equipped with a 10.1-inch adaptive rotating touchscreen. The DiLink system supports video playback and voice interaction. The car is also integrated with Bluetooth and NFC entry. It comes with safety features such as four airbags, ESP, EPB, and heated exterior mirrors. Higher trim levels include additional front passenger-side airbags.
Options such as intelligent driving assistance, adaptive cruise control, active emergency braking, traffic sign recognition, and lane departure warning will also be available for the upper trim.

BYD Dolphin Mini Honor Edition is available in three trim levels:

• 305KM Active – 69,800 yuan (9,700 USD)
• 305KM Free – 75,800 yuan (10,500 USD)
• 405KM Flying – 85,800 yuan (12,000 USD)

Since its debut at the Shanghai Auto Show in April last year, the BYD Dolphin Mini has been a consistent bestseller. It achieved an annual sales record of 280,217 units in 2023. Its direct competitors include Wuling Bingo, Dongfeng Nammi 01, and JAC Yiwei 3 EV.
Source: BYD

 

[Yommie]

BYD refreshed China’s bestselling MPV Denza D9

2024 Denza D9 became 2,200 USD cheaper and got a few enhancements as BYD wants to continue dominating the MPV market in China.

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BYD refreshed China’s bestselling MPV Denza D9​

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Denis Bobylev

March 6, 2024


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BYD’s 2024 Denza D9 MPV (minivan) has entered the Chinese market with a few enhancements and a starting price of 339,800 yuan (47,200 USD). Its PHEV variant became 10,000 yuan (1,400 USD) cheaper, and the EV version’s starting price was sliced by 16,000 yuan (2,200 USD).


BYD’s Denza D9 was first introduced to the Chinese market in 2022. It became the resurrection of the Denza brand after Mercedes-Benz diluted its share in this JV from 50% to 10%. In 2023, the Denza D9 became the bestselling minivan in China, with 117,978 units sold. Now, this MPV has been refreshed for 2024.

2024 Denza D9 key information​

The exterior of the 2024 Denza D9 hasn’t changed much. It still has some Toyota Alphard vibes with a huge chrome-plated grille in the front end. From the back, it has a single taillight unit and a roof spoiler. The main enhancement of the 2024 model is electric suction doors that are available as standard. The Denza D9 boasts hefty dimensions of 5250/1960/1920 mm with a wheelbase of 3110 mm.


The interior of the Denza D9 is available with a 7- and 4-seat layout. Its center console has a 15.6-inch floating screen, a 10.25-inch LCD instrument panel, and a heads-up display. The 2024 D9 goes against the grain, replacing the touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel with physical buttons. The center console also was equipped with more convenient buttons. Other updates are the game center app, a customizable wake word for the car voice assistant, and a new interior shade oddly called “旷达米” (Broad-minded Rice).
The Denza D9’s four-seat version is called Pioneer. It is positioned as the most luxurious variant with a Forest air purification system, 18-way electric seat adjustments, 18-point massage, and a huge screen in fornt of the second-row passengers. The deliveries of the D9 Pioneer are scheduled for Q2 this year.

Powertrain and price range​

This MPV has both PHEV and BEV powertrain modifications with FWD and 4WD. There are three PHEV variants:

• DM-i 970
• 102-kW 1.5-liter ICE, 170-kW e-motor, FWD, 20.39 kWh LFP battery, 103 km EV range, 970 km mixed range
• DM-i 1050
• 102-kW 1.5-liter ICE, 170-kW e-motor, FWD, 40.06 kWh LFP battery, 200 km EV range, 1050 km mixed range
• DM-i 980
• 102-kW 1.5-liter ICE, 170-kW + 45-kW e-motors, 4WD, 40.06 kWh LFP battery, 190 km EV range, 980 km mixed range

There are two EV variants:

• EV 620
• 230-kW e-motor, FWD, 103.36 kWh LFP battery, 620 km CLTC range
• EV 600
• 230-kW + 45-kW e-motor, 103.36 kWh LFP battery, 600 km CLTC range

The 2024 Denza D9 is available in nine trim levels at a price range of 339,800 – 600,600 yuan (47,200 – 84,300 USD). According to Denza, the revised variant of this MPV attracted over 10,000 orders after the presales started.
Source: Denza, Autohome

 

[Yommie]

Chinese car brands never die Chapter 2563: Zhidou Rainbow puts China’s once 2nd largest NEV producer back in the game

Geely and Aima rescue China's once second largest EV producer and the brand comes back with the Zhidou Rainbow microcar.

carnewschina.com

Chinese car brands never die Chapter 2563: Zhidou Rainbow puts China’s once 2nd largest NEV producer back in the game​

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Mark Andrews

March 6, 2024


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Zhidou Rainbow micro EV car

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The new Zhidou Rainbow should launch in the second quarter of this year which is a remarkable resurrection for a company which was once China’s second largest NEV producer but filed for bankruptcy in 2019 and has been dormant ever since.

Zhidou was one of the early birds with microcars and so it’s no surprise that that the Zhidou Rainbow is very much in the style of the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV. A 3-door four seater it has a length, width and height of 3224/1515/1630 mm respectively and a wheelbase of 2100 mm. However the car is larger than both the Wuling car and also Geely’s Panda.
Power comes from a 20kW electric motor, and the car uses a lithium iron phosphate battery from Gotion.


Zhidou has been restructured from bankruptcy by Geely and Aima Technology Group with Geely chairman Eric Li (Li Shufu) and Aima chairman Zhang Jian playing key roles. Aima is a company involved in producing e-bikes. It is believed that Zhidou will use Aima sales channels.
According to Fast Technology Zhidou was founded in 2006 and the company’s European website says it was a joint venture between Geely Holding Group, XDY Machinery and Electronics Group and GSR Ventures. Zhidou previously sold a range of two seater microcars, e-bikes and electric tuk-tuks.
Zhidou was one of the first new energy vehicle companies to achieve more than 100,000 accumulative sales. The company’s best year was 2017 when the company ranked as China’s second best selling new energy vehicle company with sales in China of 42,000. Fast Technology claim the cars were also widely exported to Europe and other countries.

One of the original Zhidou models the D2 – one of a number of small two seater electric cars produced before bankruptcy in 2019
The company was a victim of changes of regulations in 2017 which meant all electric cars with ranges of less than 250 km were no longer eligible for subsidies. Sales fell abruptly and by 2019 the company only sold just 2,005 cars in the first half of the year leading to its bankruptcy.

Editor’s note:​

It’s surprising that after such a long period since going bankrupt and no one being interested in rescuing the company or buying the assets that Geely and Aima have decided that now is the right time to resurrect the brand. It just goes to show that it is very difficult to kill a car brand in China despite there being far too many of them.
Microcars are now very popular in China and so this may well be a success especially given that Aima has 30,000 stores across the country. Under the new company structure Zhidou should benefit from supply chain and research resources of both companies along with the sales channels of Aima.
It also goes to show how much the NEV market has moved in China. Back in 2019 it was not possible to sell a low range EV car without subsidies but now companies can produce them without subsidies for a price that is very attractive to consumers. It will also help that the new car is a four seater, previous Zhidou cars seem to have all been two seaters which limited appeal.
One very curious aspect with Zhidou is that the international website for the company seems to be still active despite the company not producing cars since 2019.

 

[Yommie]

BYD Song Plus competitor Neta L starts deliveries in China in April

Neta L has both EREV and EV variants. Inside, it has three screens. Is it enough to rival the BYD Song Plus?

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BYD Song Plus competitor Neta L starts deliveries in China in April​

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Denis Bobylev

March 7, 2024


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Neta co-founder and CEO Zhang Yong disclosed the Neta L crossover will start deliveries in April this year. It comes in both EV and EREV variants. The L SUV will rival the BYD Song Plus (Seal U in Europe) as Neta wants to amplify its sales performance in China.

Neta is a Chinese NEV mainstream brand launched in 2018 by Hozon Auto. Its current line comprises four models: Neta Aya, Neta X, Neta S, and Neta GT. Among these models, the Neta S is the only car that comes in both all-electric and range-extended (EREV) versions.
In 2023, Neta sold 127,496 cars and fell short of the sales plan of 250,000 units. Last year’s insufficient sales performance resulted in a postponement of staff bonuses. Now, Neta eagerly wants to amplify its sales performance, and the Neta L crossover can become its driving force in the local market.

Neta L launch and deliveries​

Previously, the Neta L market launch was scheduled for March this year. Today, Neta co-founder and CEO Zhang Yong announced on Chinese social media Weibo that this crossover will start deliveries in April. The actual launch of the Neta L was postponed as Mr. Zhang mentioned that the Neta team is still discussing the product configuration. He underlined the company’s intentions to create a good product.
In the comment section under the post, Mr. Zhang mentioned that the EREV variant of Neta L will feature a 40.27 kWh battery from CATL. Previously, the Chinese regulator (MIIT) disclosed two smaller battery variants for the Neta L with a range extender: 30.1 kWh and 30.4 kWh for 164 km of electric range. Let’s get to detailed information about the Neta L.

More info about Neta L​

Neta L is a mid-size crossover underpinned by the brand’s Shanhai architecture. Its dimensions are 4770/1900/1660 mm, and its wheelbase is 2810 mm. It is 15 mm shorter and 8 mm lower than the BYD Song Plus (Seal U).


The electric variant of Neta L has a single 170-kW electric motor manufactured by CRRC Powertrain. It is powered by a 69 kWh LFP battery pack from SVOLT, a Great Wall Motor subsidiary. The range of electric Neta L reaches 510 km in the CLTC cycle. For comparison, the BYD Song Plus EV has 520 km of CLTC range as standard.

The EREV version adds a 1.5-liter 67-kW engine from Dongfeng to the same e-motor. Here, this ICE works only as a generator, powering the battery. As mentioned, this variant will have three battery options: 30.1 kWh and 30.4 kWh options from SVOLT and a 40.27 kWh pack from CATL.
Inside, the Neta L has five seats. Its center console has some Li Auto vibes because of a large twin screen. It also has a D-shaped steering wheel with a gear selector mounted behind it. The Neta L also has a thin instrument panel. Its center tunnel looks quite minimalistic, with two cup holders and a wireless phone charging pad. The second row of the Neta L has a center armrest and foldable tables.
The Neta L’s price has yet to be disclosed. CarNewsChina expects this crossover to be in the 150,000 – 250,000 yuan (20,800 – 34,700 USD) price segment. This year, Neta will also launch the station wagon called Neta SS. It also wants to boost the annual overseas sales to 100,000 cars. To achieve this goal, Neta constructed its first overseas plant in Thailand last year. Now, it also wants to launch the manufacturing process in Malaysia.
Source: Weibo

 

[Yommie]

GAC Trumpchi Empow R goes topless in China

GAC Trumchi Empow R gets the convertible treatment. Shadow leopard loses its roof.

carnewschina.com

GAC Trumpchi Empow R goes topless in China​

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Mark Andrews

March 7, 2024


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GAC Trumpchi Empow R convertible

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We have an early contender for China’s sexiest car of 2024 but unfortunately at the moment there is no news on whether it will make it to production. Shown at the 2024 Shenzhen Jiuzhou (Kyushu) Modification Exhibition the already quite sporty looking Empow R gets the convertible treatment.

The car has been modified by GAC and both Autohome and Fast Technology report that the modifications cost nearly 1,000,000 yuan (138,950 USD). Not only has the car lost two doors but the wheelbase gets 120 mm lobbed off while the front doors are now 100 mm longer. The B-pillars are gone and to incorporate the folding roof mechanism the A-pillars, cross members, and rear fenders were rebuilt.

Riding on 20-inch wheels the convertible has a low-rider stance thanks to new twisted shock absorbers lowering the ride. Other modifications include the interior styling, refueling system and oil circuit, a new exhaust system, along with a non-standard paint job.

Power comes from the same standard 2.0T engine in the Empow R giving 195 kW power and 400 Nm torque. This is coupled to an 8-speed Aisin automatic transmission.

The GAC Trumpchi Empow first went on sale in 2021. The Chinese name yingbao means shadow leopard which seems better than the rather strange sounding Empow name in English. The car originally only came with a 1.5T petrol engine coupled to a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. A hybrid version using a 2.0 liter engine and electric motor for a combined power output of 175 kW came in 2022. The Empow R followed in 2023 debuting at the 2023 Shanghai Auto Show which also showed the Empow R × ABT which is a collaboration with German tuner ABT and is meant to be available to buy.
The GAC Empow R as tuned by ABT on display at the 2023 Shanghai Auto Show.

Editor’s note:​

GAC is probably the most adventurous of the large SOE companies and so there is a chance that the GAC Trumpchi Empow R convertible will make it to production; afterall GAC has brought us cars such as the Aion Hyper SSR and Hyper GT.

 

[Yommie]

Dongfeng eπ007 will officially launch on March 14

Dongfeng eπ 007 electric coupe to lunch on March 14 and will come with scissor doors.

carnewschina.com

Dongfeng eπ007 will officially launch on March 14​

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Mark Andrews

March 7, 2024


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Dongfeng eπ 007 electric coupe

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We now know that the Dongfeng eπ 007 will launch on March 14. Set to come as both an extended range and all-electric liftback the four models will range in price from 159,600-199,600 yuan (22,200-27,750 USD). Fully loaded with options the car comes in at 234,600 yuan (32,600 USD).

200 Pro Extended Range Edition	159,600 yuan (22,200 USD)
530 Pro version	166,600 yuan (23,150 USD)
620 Pro version	179,600 yuan (24,950 USD)
540 AWD Max Edition	199,600 yuan (27,750 USD)

Dongfeng eπ 007 versions and prices
Style wise it follows the sports coupe look first popularized in China for EVs by the XPeng P7, although the Dongfeng eπ 007 is actually a five door hatchback. The front face has a very simple design, and uses a split headlight cluster design. From the side the sleek lines that help give the car a 0.209Cd drag coefficient are apparent. The top of the line version has an electric rear spoiler which will be an option on other versions. Size wise the Dongfeng eπ 007 measures in at 4880mm/1895mm/1460 mm (l/w/h) with a wheelbase of 2915 mm.
The two standard colors are night shadow black and dawn white, there are an additional five cost option colors. The AWD Max version comes with 19-inch performance wheels, red brake calipers and Continental tires, all other versions of the Dongfeng eπ 007 get 18-inch low drag wheels.


Buyers can opt for scissor doors on the 620 Pro and 540 AWD Max versions. A cost option they are equipped with dual ultrasonic radar active obstacle avoidance and anti-pinch functions.

Inside the car has an 8.8-inch LCD instrument cluster and 15.6-inch central display screen. Behind the SOA intelligent cockpit with 38 service modules is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip. There are a total of 123 interfaces and over 300 custom scenes.
Equipment includes a 20-speaker audio system, 64-color ambient lighting, 50W wireless charging for mobile phones, gesture recognition, electric 6-way adjustment of the main driver’s seat + memory/welcome, electric 4-way adjustment of the passenger seat, ventilation/heating of the front seat, etc.


All versions of the car get assisted driving functions which includes forward collision warning, AEB automatic emergency braking, traffic sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assistance, lane merging assist, blind spot monitoring, lane change warning, rear traffic crossing braking, panoramic image, transparent chassis, etc. Higher spec versions gain NOA high-speed navigation assistance driving software subscription service, and LAPA over-the-horizon memory parking software subscription service. These utilize the 31 sensors on higher spec versions which consist of 8 high-definition cameras, 4 surround-view cameras, 12 ultrasonic radars, 5 millimeter-wave radars, 1 intelligent driving domain controller, and a high-precision positioning unit.
Range extended versions of the Dongfeng eπ 007 use a 1.5 liter engine as a generator. The rear 160kW electric motor has a peak torque of 310 Nm. This version comes with a 28.39 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery which is good for 200 km CLTC electric range with a total range of 1200 km. Acceleration time is 7.2 seconds.
With the all-electric versions the 530 Pro used the same 160 kW motor as the EREV but this time with a 56.83 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery. The 530 in the model’s name is the CLTC range and the acceleration time is 6.8 seconds. Unsurprisingly the 620 Pro gets a 620 km range out of a 70.26 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery. Thanks though to a more powerful 200 kW electric motor with 320 Nm of torque, acceleration time is reduced to 5.8 seconds. Finally the AWD 540 Max uses the same battery as the 620 Pro but doubles up on the 200 kW motors giving a 3.9 second acceleration time. Interestingly the car comes not only with V2V and V2L but also V2G discharging.
eπ is a new NEV brand under Dongfeng Aeolus launched last year in April at the Shanghai Auto Show. The eπ 007 is the first car to go on sale in what is meant to be a premium brand but presumably positioned below Dongfeng’s Voyah range.

 

[Yommie]

Neta’s Indonesia plant set for vehicles to roll off the assembly line next month

Neta spreads its wings in Indonesia with a new factory.

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Neta’s Indonesia plant set for vehicles to roll off the assembly line next month​

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Naveed Rastegar

March 8, 2024


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Hozon Auto‘s brand Neta, a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, announced through its official Weibo account that its Indonesian factory received its first batch of production equipment on March 6. This marks a significant step towards achieving localized production in Indonesia. However, this is not Neta’s first foray into overseas manufacturing, as it also announced plans in 2023 for production in Thailand.

According to Neta, they anticipate the first vehicle to roll off the assembly line at their Indonesian factory on April 30 this year. The company has planned for localized production in Indonesia to be carried out in the form of Knocked Down (KD) manufacturing, which is set to commence in the second quarter of 2024.
Neta equipment delivered at its Indonesia plant
KD manufacturing encompasses three forms: Completely Knocked Down (CKD), Semi-Knocked Down (SKD), and Completely Built Up (CBU). In the case of Neta Auto, they will import all the parts as separate shipments and assemble them domestically in Indonesia.

Neta debuted in the Indonesian market on October 24 last year, launching the Neta V model, priced at 379 million Indonesian Rupiah (24,000 USD). On November 27, the company held a signing ceremony for cooperation in Indonesia and successfully delivered the first batch of vehicles to Indonesian customers.
The progress made with the arrival of the first batch of production equipment at the Indonesian factory is a significant milestone in Neta’s overseas expansion strategy. It demonstrates the company’s commitment to establishing a presence in the Southeast Asian market, along with its other ambitions to launch in the European market.
A birds-eye view of the Neta Indonesia plant
In addition to its efforts in Indonesia, Thailand, and Europe, Neta is actively expanding into other global markets, including the Middle East, the Americas, and Africa. To meet the increasing demand from global consumers, the company plans to expand its global sales network in 2024, with a target of covering 50 countries and establishing 500 overseas sales and service centers. These initiatives support Neta’s goal of achieving overseas sales of 100,000 vehicles in the coming year.

As Neta progresses with the setup of their Indonesian factory and gears up for localized production, they are poised to enhance their competitiveness in the Indonesian market and strengthen their position as a key player in the heating up global electric vehicle industry.
Source: IThome and DIEV

 

[Yommie]

Stellantis backed Leapmotor C16 spy shots – the half price Li L8

Spy shots emerge of Leapmotor C16 the next world car from the Stellantis backed Chinese EV producer. The car is likely to go to Europe.

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Stellantis backed Leapmotor C16 spy shots – the half price Li L8​

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Mark Andrews

March 8, 2024


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Leapmotor C16 spy shot

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A few days after Leapmotor launched its C10 more details are emerging of the Stellantis backed company’s next car. The C16 will launch later this year and will come in six and seven seat versions.

Fast Technology say the C16 can be seen as a half price Li L8, just as the C10 can be seen as a cheaper L7. Certainly Leapmotor make no pretensions of learning from Li Auto. Zhu Jiangming, CEO of Leapmotor, recently said: “Every detail of LeapmotorC10 learns from the Li L7. In terms of understanding user needs, product control, comfort, car machine display mode, etc., Li Auto is worth studying.”
Recent spy shots give us more information about the upcoming C16. The C10 was Leapmotor’s first car designed as a world car and the C16 follows on with this using the new Leap 3.0 architecture and design language. Both externally and with the interior the C16 closely follows the C10 formula with a very obvious family relationship, something that cannot be said for earlier Leapmotor models.

Exterior styling is not only similar to the Leapmotor C10 but it is also quite similar to that of the L series SUVs from Li Auto. There are light bar taillights which wrap around the whole rear.

Inside the front is very similar to the C10 with an LCD instrument panel and large floating centrally mounted infotainment unit. There is still no separate entertainment screen for the front passenger, however, channeling the L series from Li there is a fold down entertainment screen on the ceiling for second-row passengers. The spy shots are of the six seater and we can see that the second row has individual seats with armrests.
Details about the car are currently quite limited however the C16 uses CTC 2.0 to integrate the cells to the chassis so making them load bearing and reducing the overall weight of the car. There will be a new oil-cooled electric motor and the car will use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 to control the cockpit.

The Li L8 currently retails for 339,800-399,800 yuan (47,250-55,600 USD) and so if the C16 is to be a half price L8, as rumored, we should expect prices around the 200,000 yuan (27,800 USD) mark. The C16 will come in both EREV and BEV versions.
To keep costs down the C16 will likely follow the route taken by the C10 and be only available as a RWD car, power though is likely up on the 170 kW electric motor in the smaller car. The range extended version will probably use the same 1.5L H15R petrol engine as a power generator. Battery packs will almost certainly be lithium iron phosphate as in the C10. We should also expect the C16 to come in smaller than the Li L8, and probably a bit under 5 meters in length.
Stellantis acquired 20% of Leapmotor in an October 2023 deal. As part of the deal the two companies formed a joint venture called Leapmotor International (Stellantis holds 51% and Leapmotor controls 49%) to sell and manufacture Leapmotor vehicles outside China. The C16 is likely to be exported under this arrangement.

 

[Yommie]

Lynk & Co 07 EM-P launches in China

Lynk & Co 07 EM-P launches in China. New PHEV sedan from Geely and Volvo joint brand aims to boosts sales.

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Lynk & Co 07 EM-P launches in China​

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Mark Andrews

March 8, 2024


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Lynk & Co 07 EM-P

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Today Lynk & Co launched the brand’s second sedan the 07 EM-P. About the size of a Toyota Camry with length, width and height of 4827/1900/1480 mm respectively, and a wheelbase of 2843 mm the new model uses a 1.5T EM-P plug-in hybrid system.

Lynk & Co is a brand jointly developed by Geely and Volvo and founded in 2016. The Lynk & Co 07 EM-P uses the CMA Evo platform which is a development of the Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform developed by CEVT.
The new car can be seen as a sedan version of the Lynk & Co 08 EM-P an SUV launched last year with most of the same design elements like the new front ‘h’ shaped LED running lights and full width headlight group.

Black side pillars, roof and mirrors help give the side profile a sporty look furthered by the quite aggressive wheels. Like the 08 there are hidden door handles to help with aerodynamics. At the back of the Lynk & Co 07 EM-P there is a black spoiler and taillights that run the width of the car punctuated by four rectangles.

Inside the car follows on from the Lynk & Co 08 and comes with a 12.3-inch LCD instrument screen along with a 15.4-inch central control screen. This screen has a very thin bezel and 2.5k resolution and comes with the Lynk Flyme Auto Meizu HMI system. Geely founder Eric Li (Li Shufu) bought mobile phone producer Meizu in 2022. The steering wheel has an unusual two-tone design and has a metal decoration in the middle. The center console has a wireless charging pad for two mobile phones and behind it are tandem cup holders
The Lynk & Co 07 EM-P is a PHEV using the BHE15-BFZ engine which is an inline four cylinder turbo engine producing up to 120 kW of power. Electric motor options are still unknown but are likely to be the same as in the 08 EM-P. This means that there will be two versions one with total system power of 280 kW and the other with 436 kW. The lower powered version has a 160 kW electric motor on the front axle with a maximum torque of 350 Nm, the torque of the combined system is 615 Nm with the 120 kW petrol engine. On the Performance version a 156 kW motor is added to the rear axle producing an additional 290 Nm of torque for total of 905 Nm for the complete system.

Range of the lower powered system is 1,400 km under the CLTC testing cycle with an all-electric range of 102 km. Furthermore the Lynk & Co 07 EM-P supports 3.3 kilowatts of external discharge. The car uses a 18.99 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery from CALB.

Editor’s note:​

Until now the Lynk & Co 03 has been the odd one out in a family where every other car in the range is an SUV. The 07 EM-P is certainly a good looking car and being bigger than the 03 should be a more appealing package.

 

[Yommie]

BYD Qin L PHEV sedan with 90 km EV range spotted on road-test

BYD Qin L midsize sedan goes on road-test

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BYD Qin L PHEV sedan with 90 km EV range spotted on road-test​

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Adrian Leung

March 10, 2024


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Spy shots of BYD’s latest PHEV Qin L have surfaced as it is going on road tests. In the photos, we can see the vehicle is undisguised. The BYD Qin L belongs to BYD’s Dynasty series which includes Qin, Tang, Song, Yuan, and Han. According to BYD, it is positioned above the Qin PLUS, a compact sedan. BYD Qin L’s expected starting price is around 120,000 yuan (16,700 USD).


The Qin L’s exterior stays in line with the design language of the BYD Han. The front headlights are more elongated. It has a large grille built into the bumper. The side profile exhibits two distinct character lines resembling the Han. The dimensions of the new car are 4830/1900/1495 mm with a wheelbase of 2790 mm. Compared to the current Qin Plus model with dimensions of 4765/1837/1495 mm and a wheelbase of 2718 mm, the Qin L is larger overall.

Similar to the Han, the car showcases a taillight design with traditional Chinese knot patterns. The bumper also has air deflectors, giving the rear end a refreshed look.


Inside, there is a fully digital dashboard that complements a sizable central touchscreen. The steering wheel appears to be sporty with built-in controls. Below the central touchscreen, there appears to be a wireless charger. Since the Qin L has a longer wheelbase than the Qin Plus, it should be more spacious for the rear passengers. The car is expected to house the latest infotainment system from BYD.

BYD Qin L will have a plug-in hybrid system consisting of a 1.5L engine and an electric motor. It adopts BYD’s 5th-generation DM-i powertrain system. The engine will generate 74 kW, while the electric motor generates up to 160 kW. The car will come with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. The consumers will have two options, 15.874 kWh (90 km EV range) and 10.08 kWh (60km EV range).
As part of BYD’s Dynasty series, the Qin Plus PHEV sedan sales reached 482,145 units in 2023. It became one of BYD’s best-selling models. The upcoming Qin L PHEV sedan will further expand the Qin family. Stay tuned for more updates on the Qin L.

Source: Wechat: BYD Fans

 

[Yommie]

Hongqi EH7 EV will enter market on March 20 in China

The EH7 will be available in RWD and AWD under the Hongqi New Energy sub-brand. A battery-swap variant will also be launched in the future.

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Hongqi EH7 EV will enter market on March 20 in China​

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Dong Yi Chen

March 10, 2024


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On March 10, Hongqi New Energy, a sub-brand under Hongqi, announced that its upcoming Hongqi EH7 electric sedan will be launched on March 20th in China. The EH7 was previously codenamed E001 and also the first model under the sub-brand. Hongqi is a luxury brand owned by FAW, established in 1959.

Last year, Hongqi announced its “All in New Energy” campaign to promote the electrification of all models. More specifically, in the next three years, Hongqi New Energy plans to launch 15 new energy vehicles covering all market segments including A, B, C, and D-segments, as well as SUVs and MPVs.

Overall, the Hongqi EH7 is based on the brand’s FMEs architecture and adopts a fastback shape. The closed front face is integrated with sharp “L”-shaped headlights on both sides, emphasizing its identity as an electric vehicle. Notable design elements including the hidden door handles, five-spoke rims coupled with a red Brembo brake caliper, and a panoramic sunroof are not absent.


It is worth mentioning that the taillights are composed of 285 LED units and give off a three-dimensional effect when lit up, making them highly recognizable.
Positioned as a medium-to-large sedan, the new car measures 4980/1915/1490 mm, with a 3000 mm wheelbase. Additionally, consumers can choose from a total of six exterior body colors: green, purple, silver, gray, white, and black.

Inside, the cockpit adopts a contrasting black/white color scheme, paired with a 6-inch + 15.5-inch curved dual screen for the instrument panel and central control screen, powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip. At the same time, an AR HUD (head-up display) and autonomous driving capabilities are also present.

The Hongqi EH7 will be available in RWD and AWD, matched with ternary lithium battery packs supplied by CATL. At this time, the battery pack capacity has not been officially announced; but Chinese media d1ev reported earlier that the cruising ranges are 760 km and 820 km, respectively. In the future, there will also be battery-swap and long-range fast-charge variants with up to 800 km range.
The RWD is equipped with an electric motor with a maximum power of 253 kW, while the AWD is equipped with front and rear dual motors with a maximum power of 202 kW and 252 kW, respectively. Furthermore, the RWD will have a top speed of 190 km/h and a 0 – 100 km/h acceleration time of 3.9 seconds.
Source: DongChedi, d1ev, Hongqi New Energy, AutoHome

 

[Yommie]

Chery Fulwin A8 Pro PHEV to launch April 18

Pro version of Chery Fulwin A8 to launch on April 18. New PHEV has a redesigned front and lighter interior.

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Chery Fulwin A8 Pro PHEV to launch April 18​

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Mark Andrews

March 11, 2024


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Chery Fulwin A8 Pro to launch April 18

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Previously shown at the 2023 Guangzhou Auto Show the Chery Fulwin A8 Pro is based on the Fulwin A8 which is already on sale. It’s very common for Chinese brands to add ‘Max’ or ‘Pro’ to the name of an existing model and create a new variant. One of the most obvious differences with the new car is the far more enclosed front face.

Although the Fulwin A8 is already a PHEV the new Chery Fulwin A8 Pro looks far more like a new energy vehicle thanks to the new front. The original car looks very much like an ICE, and is indeed based on one, the Chery Arrizo 8. The sides and rear of the new model though are very much the same as the base car. Dimensions are 4780/1843/1469 mm (l/w/h), and the wheelbase is 2790 mm.

Inside the Chery Fulwin A8 Pro is also very similar to the Fulwin A8. One of the biggest differences is that the steering wheel now has Fulwin written on it rather than Chery. Also the interior color of the new car is largely white compared to the black of the original. There’s a dual 12.3-inch instrument, infotainment cluster of screens dominating the dashboard. The car supports both Apple CarPlay and Huawei HiCar. There’s an opening panoramic sunroof and the driver’s seat gets heating and ventilation functions.


The car will come with Chery’s Kunpeng Super Performance Electric Hybrid C-DM a plugin hybrid system built around a 1.5 turbo engine providing 115 kW and 220 Nm of torque. There is in addition an electric motor on the front axle providing 150 kW with 310 Nm of torque. Transmission is a 1-speed hybrid transmission (DHT) unit and the system combined power is 265 kW with torque of 530 Nm.

Range is likely to be the same as the Fulwin A8 so 127 km under CLTC or 106 km WLTC. That is based on the car having the same 14.2 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery pack. Total range is likely to be the same 1,400 km. Official prices of the Chery Fulwin A8 are 119,900 to 149,900 yuan (16,700-20,850 USD) and so prices for the A8 Pro are likely to be slightly above these.
The name Fulwin or Fengyun in Chinese was used by Chery for its first car, a sedan based on the Seat Toledo, which went on sale in 1999. Chery stopped using the name in 2016 but has now resurrected it to use for PHEV versions of Chery models. Fengyun means storm in English.

Editor’s note:​

Chinese brands are very good at producing cars such as the Chery Fulwin A8 Pro which have little difference from another car already in the range, in this case the Chery Fulwin A8. Part of the reason is to create continual noise so that the brand can gain attention, however whether these additional models have anything other than a marginal effect on sales is debatable.

 

[Yommie]

GWM’s Tank 700 Hi4-T Limited Edition hits delivery centers in China

GWM’s Tank 700 Hi4-T Limited Edition sold out in just 55 seconds, hits delivery centers

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GWM’s Tank 700 Hi4-T Limited Edition hits delivery centers in China​

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Adrian Leung

March 11, 2024


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The Tank 700 Hi4-T Limited Edition began hitting delivery centers in China on March 10th. Chairman of Great Wall Motors, Wei Jianjun, participated in the delivery event and presented new owners keys to their new vehicles.


Having made its initial appearance at the Guangzhou Auto Show in 2023, the limited edition of the Tank 700 Hi4-T took center stage. It was offered with an initial 70 units with a pre-sale price of 700,000 yuan (97,500 USD). These 70 units sold out in just 55 seconds. GWM revealed later that the annual production capacity for the Tank 700 Hi4-T Limited Edition is set at 700 vehicles. It has a distinctive design with notable features such as a large radiator grille, wide fenders, sporty bumpers, and a rear roof spoiler. It rides on 275/50 R22 or 275/60 R22 wheels.

We may also note that there are strict restrictions for after-market modifications in Mainland China. The pre-installed body kit offered by GWM on Tank 700 Hi4-T Limited Edition is street-legal, hence, its popularity.


The Tank 700 belongs to GWM’s lineup of off-road-centric SUVs, including the Tank 500, Tank 400, and the Tank 300. With dimensions measuring 5096/2060/1952 mm, the Tank 700 is the largest model within the Tank lineup.

Under the hood, both the limited and regular versions share a 3.0T V6 twin-turbocharged engine generating 360 horsepower, combined with an electric motor and a 9HAT transmission. The combined power output reaches 517 horsepower and 750 Nm of torque. The SUV boasts a top speed of 190 km/h and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5 seconds, complemented by a real-time four-wheel-drive system. It can tow up to 2,500 kg.

Inside, the Tank 700 Hi4-T’s has a luxurious cabin. It features lots of soft-touch materials, dual large-size floating LCD screens, a heads-up display (HUD), and a suede leather roof. The interior houses a dual 50W mobile phone wireless charging, electric massage seats for all passengers, and a 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.

Meanwhile, the base model of the Tank 700 Hi4-T starts at 428,000 yuan (59,600 USD). The regular model retains the styling of the limited edition with some differences, including a trapezoidal front grille, angular headlights, and 22-inch multi-spoke rims.
Source: Cqnews

 

[Yommie]

BAIC joins hands with CATL and Xiaomi Auto to build intelligent battery cell manufacturing plant

Titans team up to make batteries in China.

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BAIC joins hands with CATL and Xiaomi Auto to build intelligent battery cell manufacturing plant​

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Naveed Rastegar

March 12, 2024


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On the evening of March 11th, BAIC BluePark New Energy Technology announced that to ensure a stable supply of power batteries and support industrial development, the company plans to establish a platform company in partnership with BAIC Investment, Beijing Hainachuan. The registered capital of the platform company is 390 million yuan (54 million USD).

The platform company will serve as the management and investment entity and jointly establish a Beijing Era New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. joint venture with CATL and Xiaomi Auto. The registered capital of the joint venture company is 1 billion yuan (138 million USD), with the platform company contributing 390 million yuan (54 million USD), accounting for 39%, CATL contributing 510 million yuan (71 million USD), accounting for 51% and Xiaomi Auto contributing 50 million yuan (6.9 million USD), accounting for 5%. After establishing the joint venture company, it will invest in constructing an intelligent battery cell manufacturing plant in Beijing.
The upcoming Arcfox s5
According to the announcement, BAIC Investment and Beijing Hainachuan are related parties of BAIC BluePark, constituting a related party joint investment transaction. BAIC BluePark is in the new energy vehicle business with the popular brand Arcfox.

The proposed joint venture company’s scope of business includes developing, producing, and selling lithium-ion batteries, power batteries, and energy storage batteries, as well as providing related after-sales and technical consulting services. The platform company will contribute 39%, and BAIC BluePark will indirectly contribute 5%.
The upcoming Xiaomi SU7
BAIC BluePark stated that this external investment is beneficial to ensuring a stable supply of the company’s power batteries, promoting the priority application of new power battery products and technologies in the company’s complete vehicle products, enhancing the market competitiveness of the company’s products, and achieving the company’s long-term sustainable development.
BAIC BluePark has made significant investments in the new energy vehicle market in recent years, but the company is currently experiencing losses. The company stated that the competition in the new energy vehicle market is becoming increasingly fierce. To continuously improve its competitiveness, the company aims to actively explore the market, sharpen its brand image, and improve operational efficiency.

It is worth mentioning that according to BAIC BluePark’s announcement in August last year, the company and Huawei will comprehensively upgrade their existing strategic cooperation. The first model will be a high-end, intelligent, pure electric sedan. The overall planned capacity of this project is 120,000 vehicles per year. According to the plan, this model is expected to be launched on the market this year.
Source: PCAuto

 

[Yommie]

The Comeback Kid – Zhidou Rainbow to launch in April

Zhidou Rainbow to launch in April and thanks to MIIT we know more details about this mini EV car.

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The Comeback Kid – Zhidou Rainbow to launch in April​

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Mark Andrews

March 12, 2024


5
Zhidou Rainbow in all the colors of well a rainbow!

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Once China’s second largest EV producer, Zhidou is now on the comeback road after filing for bankruptcy in 2019.

The company’s first car will be the Rainbow and no doubt Zhidou will be searching for a pot of gold at the end of it. Thanks to information from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology we now know more details about the Zhidou Rainbow which will launch in April.
There are in fact two versions of the diminutive three door four seater car. As previously reported there is one with a 20 kW electric motor but we now know that the range of this version is 201 km not the 205 km previously reported. That 205 km range, yes all of 4 km more, is reserved for the 30 kW electric motor version. Not surprisingly the two versions carry slightly different sized battery packs – 17.18 kWh for the 20 kW motor version and a massive 17.3 kWh for the 30 kW version.


The listings put the weight of both versions at 800 kg and maximum payload is 300 kg -enough for four not too heavy adults and a bit of luggage. Going through the information it seems a steering wheel airbag is not standard on all versions of the car and there is also some form of event data recording system (EDR). The car is available with 13-inch and 15-inch wheels and the steel rims seem to be optional. Despite a poster showing the car suitably painted as a rainbow it seems that regular versions will be available in a two tone paint job. One prominent feature of both the front and rear light clusters are the Y shaped inserts.

Although larger than similar cars such as the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV and the Geely Panda Mini EV the Zhidou Rainbow is still tiny with a body size of 3224×1515×1630 mm (l/w/h) and a wheelbase of 2100 mm.
Zhidou’s teaser poster of the Rainbow does produce a mystery with the company name being spelt in English on it as Zhido rather than Zhidou. It may be that it was just misspelt but equally the brand now might be Zhido in English!

Zhidou’s teaser poster of the Rainbow or should that be Zhido? See how they’ve written the brand name.
Additionally an article on IT Home spreads more light on the company restructuring. The company is now known fully as Nanjing Zhidou New Energy Automobile Company Limited and Geely Automobile Group CEO Gan Jiayue serves as the chairman of the company. Showing how complicated Chinese business workings are the MIIT listing shows the company name as Lanzhou Zhidou Electric Vehicle Co., Ltd. Lanzhou is about a thousand kilometers away from Nanjing and is in Gansu Province in the north-west.
Nanjing Zhidou’s largest shareholder is a company called Hangzhou Jicheng Enterprise Management Consulting, which holds 84.2% of the shares. Established in May 2023 the four largest shareholders are Zhejiang Geely, Zhang Jian the CEO of Aima, Bao Wenguang the founder of Zhidou, and Hangzhou Jizhi Enterprise Management Co., Ltd.