China Auto Thread

[Yommie]

EXCLUSIVE Onvo L60 to start at 170,000 yuan (23,500 USD) without battery pack under BaaS subscription, sources say

The version without a battery will be about 50,000 yuan cheaper.

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EXCLUSIVE Onvo L60 to start at 170,000 yuan (23,500 USD) without battery pack under BaaS subscription, sources say​

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Jiri Opletal

May 16, 2024


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Nio’s mass-market brand Onvo plans to sell its first EV, the L60 mid-size SUV, about 50,000 yuan (6,900 USD) cheaper than with a buyout battery, sources familiar with the matter told CarNewsChina. Onvo L60 with a BaaS (battery-as-a-service) subscription would start at 169,00 yuan (23,400 USD).

“The price wasn’t finalized yet, but the BaaS version will be about 50,000 yuan cheaper than with the entry-level 60 kWh (battery) pack,” the source said. Nio didn’t reply to the request for comment sent outside of regular office hours.
All current Nio models can be purchased 70,000 yuan (9,700 USD) cheaper without a battery. Under BaaS conditions, you subscribe to a contract for the pack at 728 yuan (100 USD) monthly. The entry-level battery pack for Nio cars is 75 kWh with NMC chemistry supplied by CATL.

Reuters previously reported that Onvo will use cheaper LFP Blade batteries from BYD and that the entry-level battery pack will have a 60 kWh capacity. Nio officially confirmed that the starting range of L60 is 555 km under CLTC conditions.
Using the cheaper LFP battery from BYD will help bring the overall cost of the vehicles, including the battery, down. However, with a cheaper battery, the percentual difference between a car with a battery and a car with BaaS will be less significant for Onvo vehicles compared to Nio badged vehicles.
Onvo vehicles will be compatible with 3rd, 4th, and higher generations of swap stations, meaning about 1000 swap stations are ready for the Onvo brand. Nio operates a total of 2,415 swap stations in China as of today.

Interestingly, in China, you can swap batteries regardless of whether you are a BaaS subscriber or own the battery. In Europe, however, only Nio owners with BaaS can swap, as Power Swap Stations (PSS) are forbidden to users who purchased the battery.
READ ALSO

5 Things You Wanted to Know About Nio’s BaaS in the EU, But Were Afraid to Ask​

Onvo is not the only EV maker to use BYD batteries in 2024. It was reported that Xpeng will use LFP Blade battery packs for its new Mona brand, and Mercedes-Benz will use BYD batteries for its hybrid GLC SUV and possibly in other EVs later in 2025.
Onvo L60 was unveiled on May 15 and went on pre-sale for 219,900 yuan (30,500 USD). Nio has been silent about the number of preorders received so far.
Willaim Li, Nio’s CEO, previously announced that the Onvo L60 will outsell the Xioami SU7. The SU7 is Xioami’s first car, launched on March 28. It received nearly 90,000 preorders in the first 24 hours, and Lei Jun, Xiaomi’s CEO, said the company planned to deliver 100,000 units in 2023. On May 15, Xiaomi delivered its 10,000th SU7.

 

[Yommie]

XPeng’s Mona first car spied ahead of next month launch

XPeng's Mona brand first car F59 is spied with best pictures yet ahead of next month's launch. Car expected to sell to ride hailing firms.

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XPeng’s Mona first car spied ahead of next month launch​

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Mark Andrews

May 16, 2024


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XPeng’s new Mona brand is expected to launch next month and intends to give XPeng a volume boost by producing a car aimed at ride-hailing companies such as Didi, China’s Uber equivalent. We recently found new pictures of the brand’s first car undergoing testing giving us the best idea yet as to what it will look like.

The car has already entered the production trial stage (PT1) and is expected to enter PT2 soon. Price will be in the region of 150,000 yuan (20,800 USD) and the car is all-electric. After the first car is released next month deliveries should begin in the third quarter. Cars are being produced at XPeng’s original factory in Zhaoqing, Guangdong Province, which also produces the XPeng P7i.

We can see from the spy shots that the car has prominent T-shaped light clusters both front and rear. It appears to adopt a different design language to current XPeng models and seems to have a closed front grille at the front with a lot of contouring below the hood line. The car is expected to have a floating roof design along with concealed door handles. Through the camouflage at the back we see the car is likely to have a fairly simple design bar those T-shaped light clusters.

We now also have much better spy shots of the interior. At first glance Mona’s first model takes a Tesla like approach to the front with just a large central infotainment unit of around 15-inches. However, there is what appears to be a tiny instrument screen at the base of the steering column, the value of this would seem to be questionable.
If this car really is aimed as a ride hailing car the rear is worrying, the spy shots don’t seem to show much legroom. It’s believed there will be options for either a black or a white interior, the spy shots obviously being of the white one.
Mona supposedly stands for “Made of new AI” and started life as a strategic cooperation agreement with Didi last year. XPeng subsequent acquired R&D from Didi’s Da Vinci smart electric vehicle project. The first Mona car is codenames F59.

Mona’s F59 is known to at least on some models use BYD’s blade batteries and the car is expected to have a range of over 500 km. The car uses Fuyao architecture and will include XNGP (XPeng assisted driving technology) along with the X-EEA3 electrical architecture. Sales will initially be through shop-in-shop stores within XPeng salesrooms before the Mona brand gets its own sales channels. XPeng’s chairman He Xiaopeng has previously said he expects sales of the new car to exceed those of the Xiaomi SU7.
Source: Autohome

 

[Yommie]

Avatr E16 spy shots show brands new sedan

Avatr E16 spy shots show the brands new Tesla Model 3 competitor sedan which will come in EV and EREV forms later this year.

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Avatr E16 spy shots show brands new sedan​

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Mark Andrews

May 16, 2024


0


Earlier this month we revealed the new Avatr 07 which was previously referred to as at the Avatr 15. We knew that is was one of two new smaller more mass market cars from the brand under development. However until now nothing much was known about the E16 previously just referred to as at the Avatr 16 other than that it was sedan designed to compete with the Tesla Model 3. We now though have a set of early spy shots for the car which give us some idea of what the new model, which will likely debut before the end of the year, will look like.

Signs mean nothing in China, it’s very common to see someone smoking right next to the no-smoking notice, and so the photographer paid no heed to the big no photography stickers on the car. Anyway, we’re not complaining and we can see that the new car follows the general Avatr family line with features such as the double-layer LED daytime running lights. Although definitely a sedan it has a very high rear end and it is difficult from the camouflage shot to see whether there is really any rear windshield or whether like the Avatr 12 it is just faired over.

With the E15 becoming the Avatr 07 we can most likely expect the E16 to be called Avatr 08, although 06 is a possibility. The E16 and Avatr 07 are quite closely related and should be of a similar size. Most likely the wheelbase will be exactly the same at 2940 mm. Height of course will be lower than the 07’s 1620 mm but the length and width of 4825 and 1980 mm respectively should be quite similar on the E16.

Clearly the spy shots show the extended range EV version and the Avatr E16 will come in both all-electric and EREV versions. The motor setup is likely to be the same as with the Avatr 07. This means for the EV, single motor versions use a 252 kW motor on the rear axle with dual motor versions adding a 188 kW motor to the front. Range-extenders will use a 1.5 liter engine for generation. Motion will likely come from a 231 kW motor on the rear axle with an additional 131 kW motor at the front for all-wheel drive versions.
Autohome believe the prices will be in the 250,000 – 350,000 range but given the cut throat nature of the market at the moment Car News China believes they will need to be considerably cheaper than that to get the volume the brand expects from the new model.

Avatr started out as a joint venture between Changan and Nio. After Nio withdrew due to financial problems battery producer CATL joined the brand. Currently Changan holds 41% ownership, CATL 14%, Chongqing Chengan Foundation 11% and the remainder spread over various investment groups. Huawei is not a shareholder but provides much of the tech including the HarmonyOS operating system for the cockpit and Huawei ADS 2.0 for ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems). Huawei’s self-driving system is one of the most advanced in China.

The Avatr E16 along with the Avatr 07 will be important as the brand pushes into international markets starting with Thailand later this year.
Source: Autohome

 

[Yommie]

BYD Seal 06 DM-i more specs exposed, may launch at end of May

The Seal 06 DM-i is expected to be powered by BYD's 5th-gen hybrid tech, which can offer up to 2,000 km comprehensive range.

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BYD Seal 06 DM-i more specs exposed, may launch at end of May​

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Dong Yi Chen

May 16, 2024


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On May 16, more specifications of BYD’s upcoming Seal 06 DM-i were exposed in China. The car previously unveiled at the 2024 Beijing Auto Show. It is expected to be equipped with BYD’s fifth-generation DM hybrid technology and may launch at the end of May with an approximate price range of 120,000 – 150,000 yuan (16,600 – 20,800 USD).

Positioned as a medium-sized sedan, the size of the BYD Seal 06 DM-i is 4830/1875/1495 mm, and the wheelbase is 2790 mm. The car sits under BYD’s Ocean Series.
According to the exposed information, the BYD Seal 06 DM-i is expected to launch a total of five models, with CLTC pure electric ranges of 80 km and 120 km. The 80 km range version will feature 17-inch rims, a 12.8-inch adaptive rotatable central control screen with BYD’s DiLink operating system, an 8.8-inch instrument panel, automatic climate control, six air bags, adaptive cruise control, an VtoL mobile power station, six speakers, remote control, and tire pressure monitoring.

The high-end 120 km range version will provide 18-inch rims, 22 kW DC fast charging, 6.6 kW AC slow charging, rain-sensing windshield wipers, automatic folding external mirrors, a panoramic sunroof, a level 2 DiPilot advanced driving assistance system (adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, and blind spot detection), far-side airbags, 8-way electric adjustment of the driver seat, 4-way electric adjustment of the co-pilot seat, ventilated/heated front seats, an on-board driving recorder, a 15.6-inch adaptive rotatable central control screen, eight speakers, multi-color ambient lightings, 15 kW wireless charging, a pm2.5 air purification system, and free installation of a 7 kW charging pile.
Power will come from BYD’s fifth-generation DM hybrid system, which is composed of a 1.5L engine and an electric motor, mated to an E-CVT. The engine has a maximum power of 74 kW while the motor offers two maximum power options of 120 kW and 160 kW. Two BYD’s Blade battery options will also be available with capacities of 10.08 kWh and 15.874 kWh. BYD also claims that its new generation hybrid system can deliver up to 2,000 km comprehensive range.
Source: YiChe, DongCheDi

 

[Yommie]

IM L6 sold over 6,000 units 48 hours after launch

Delivery of the semi-solid state battery model will start in October, offering 1,000 km CLTC cruising range.

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IM L6 sold over 6,000 units 48 hours after launch​

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Dong Yi Chen

May 16, 2024


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Within 48 hours of its launch, the IM L6 received more than 6,000 lock orders. As a brand new medium-to-large pure electric sedan under IM Motors, the IM L6 was launched on May 13, offering five models with a price range of 219,900 – 345,900 yuan (30,400 – 47,800 USD).

The IM L6 received 6,000 lock orders 48 hours after launch.
The IM L6’s Max Lightyear model will be equipped with the first generation mass-produced Lightyear semi-solid state battery from Qingtao (Kunshan) Energy Development Group – a battery R&D and production company in China, offering 1,000 km CLTC cruising range. Delivery will start in October. The other four models provide CLTC cruising ranges of 650 km to 850 km. Its fastest 0 – 100 km/h acceleration time is 2.74 seconds and top speed is 308 km/h.
Furthermore, the IM L6 features numerous cool technologies across the entire series including the lizard digital chassis, intelligent four-wheel steering, 900V platform, ultra-long-range high precision lidar, NVIDIA DRIVE Orin X chip, and ISC smart light language system. Its NOA (navigate on autopilot) system also comes with three millimeter-wave radars, 12 ultrasonic radars, 11 high-resolution cameras, and two high-precision positioning units. The NOA will be put into mass production in the third quarter.

The front face of the IM L6 adopts a closed design with L-shaped headlights. The body has a fastback shape with a ‘Gentle Sculpture’ design, paired with hidden door handles, frameless doors, and 20-inch rims, bringing the drag coefficient to 0.226Cd.
The interior adopts a full digital cockpit, equipped with a 26.3-inch triple screen, a 10.5-inch touch screen on the center console, and either a half-moon or full steering wheel. The cockpit also supports several modes, including napping, pet, and camping; as well as the IM generative AI model which can realize real-time information retrieval, vehicle usage Q&A, and image/music/graffiti generations.
Source: DongCheDi, IM Motors Weibo

 

[Yommie]

Can the Haima EX00 save the company through ride-hailing?

Haima EX00 aimed at taxi and ride-sharing market to go on sale by end of 2024. It has a unique 1+1+3 seating arrangement.

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Can the Haima EX00 save the company through ride-hailing?​

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Mark Andrews

May 16, 2024


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Haima is about the enter the specialized B-end market which includes taxis and ride hailing cars with its new purposely designed EX00. Over the years a number of Chinese companies have tried to enter the taxi/ride hailing market with special cars. Probably the best known and most successful was the BYD D1 with most others not amounting to much. This however hasn’t stopped a lot of NEV players targeting the sector such as XPeng with first the N5 and now Mona. On the same lines as the Haima EX00 was the FAW Bestune NAT which seems to have largely been a commercial flop. What does the EX00 which Haima has jointly created with Zhixing Box bring and can it be any more successful?

One of the pictures shows the EX00 in front of a sign saying IT Box (Zhixing Box’s English name) and this is really quite apt – box is exactly the word that comes to mind with this car. It seems that Haima is betting its future on a box with a fridge.
It looks more van like than a car and from one of the pictures it seems as if there may well be a van version of the vehicle as well. Haima announced that it has completed the key development stage and the EX00 will enter mass production in the fourth quarter of this year. Currently it’s undergoing a series of tests and preparations such as crash tests, NVH, thermal management, chassis tuning, and VCU development.

Length is currently given as 4500 mm, although it is not clear whether this is just an approximation, while wheelbase is 2850 mm. In some ways the vehicle is similar to the Zeekr MIX. That similarity carries through to it being B-pillarless on the right hand side but the door opening from pictures seems to consist of a sliding element aft and a normal swing door fore. At the front the headlight clusters are very distinctive.
Inside the Haima EX00 takes a similar approach to the LEVC TX, aka London taxi, where the space is designed around transporting passengers and their luggage. Seating is in a 1+1+3 configuration. Next to the driver is a storage space for suitcases complete with barrier to stop them sliding down the compartment. Then comes a single passenger seat which next to it has the fridge or vending machine. The third row is the most luxurious with a king seat which has ‘zero-gravity’ reclining. Whether this is the only seat with heating, ventilation and massage function is currently not clear. The third row of seats is right at the back of the car and pictures show very limited storage space behind it. It also appears as if the king seat may be asymmetrical with the other two seats in the third row. There is a drop down screen for entertainment or playing advertising, there seems to be an additional screen next to the driver.
Propelling the Haima EX00 is a 120 kW water-cooled permanent magnet motor. Equipped with a 62 kWh battery, most likely lithium iron phosphate, the range is said to be 480 kilometers (CLTC). According to current information it doesn’t seem to support battery swapping instead relying on fast charging.

Haima is one of the many Chinese car companies that are barely alive. Last year the company sold 27,957 cars, which was actually an increase of 14.6% on the year before! Can such a unique vehicle make the difference for the company?
Source: Fast Technology

 

[Yommie]

Hongqi parent FAW will join Nio’s battery swap alliance as 7th member, report says

Hongqi already applied for homologation of its EHS7 SUV with battery swap for Chinese market.

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Hongqi parent FAW will join Nio’s battery swap alliance as 7th member, report says​

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Jiri Opletal

May 17, 2024


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FAW's Hongqi E001 with battery swap debuted at Shanghai Auto Show 2023

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State-owned First Automobile Works (FAW) will join Nio’s battery swap alliance as its 7th memeber, local media reports. FAW owns the Hongqi brand, which recently revealed a version of its Hongqi EHS7 SUV with battery swap support as it applied for market homologation in China.

FAW is the second-largest member of the Big Four, the four largest state-owned automakers. The other three are SAIC Motor, Dongfeng Motor, and Changan Automobile, of which the last one is also a member of the alliance.
The current members of Nio’s battery swap alliance are GAC Group, Geely Holding, Chery Automobile, Changan Automobile, JAC, and Lotus Technology, majority owned by Geely Holding. FAW would be the seventh member, Cailin News Agency reports.

Previously, Nio’s CEO and co-founder William Li stated that the Nio-led alliance has seven members, including Nio, and more will join in the future. Li also hopes that Nio will have 10,000 swap stations in the future if more members join, which would be enough to support 10 million vehicles.
Nio currently has 2,416 swap stations in China and about 40 in Europe. About 1,000 of them are 3rd and 4th generation which supports Nio’s brand Onvo.
Last year at the Shanghai Auto Show, Hongqi revealed an E001 all-electric sedan with battery swap support. However, since then, no news has come regarding this car.

This week, on May 14, the regulator under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) revealed the list of homologation fillings, which included Hongqi EHS7 SUV with battery swap applying for a sales license in China.
Aside from Hongqi, which is its flagship brand, FAW also owns Bestune, which focuses on electric budget city cars. Moreover, FAW is Volkswagen’s major joint venture partner in China, producing the ID. series EVs in a 50:50 shared plant.
FAW recently accelerated its electrification plans and announced last year it plans to launch 15 NEV models in the next three years and reach an accumulated NEV production target of 1.45 million units by 2025.

 

[Yommie]

Nio founder talks plans: Onvo’s second car to be larger SUV

Nio brand Onvo second model to be larger SUV plus plans for the brand going forward. Sales already above expectations.

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Nio founder talks plans: Onvo’s second car to be larger SUV​

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Mark Andrews

May 17, 2024


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Yesterday Nio CEO William Li together with Alan Ai (Ai Tiecheng), president of Onvo, gave a press conference where they talked frankly about the Onvo brand and its position relative to Nio along with plans for the two brands. One Easter egg revealed is that Onvo’s second model would be a larger SUV seating six or seven people.

Unfortunately little else was revealed about the car other than that it would meet the needs of families. Car News China believes the car will unlikely reach production before mid-2025 at the earliest. The Onvo brand intends to put 100 directly operated stores into operation by the time the first Onvo L60 cars are ready to reach stores in September. William Li at the end of last year said that the plan was to open 200 Onvo stores by the end of 2024. Onvo will not have an equivalent of the Nio House which acts as a kind of clubhouse for Nio buyers and nor will Onvo buyers have any right to use Nio Houses. The brand is considering methods such as franchising to increase the number stores to help with market penetration.
William Li (left) and Alan Ai (right) talking about Onvo
Currently the Nio brand sees 70-80% of its sales to buyers in first-tier cities. For Onvo the expectation is that penetration to second, third and fourth tier cities will be much better. This will also accelerate siting battery swap stations in these cities which will in addition help existing Nio users when they travel. Onvo cars are compatible with both the third and fourth generation swap stations although the 60 kWh and 90 kWh battery capacities of the Onvo L60 are different to those in Nio models. There are currently in the region of 1000 third and fourth generation stations across China.


More information was also revealed about Nio’s strategy for the two brands and the forthcoming third brand codenamed Firefly. The company emphasized that the goal was not to be cheap but to sell more. For Onvo this has meant reducing to a single motor, going from four to one Orin X intelligent driving chips, removing Lidar and reducing the size of the base battery pack. According to Geek Park these changes alone help reduce costs by around 45,000 yuan (6,200 USD). Furthermore, changes implemented to the production process have helped reduce costs.
Nio emphasized that by having different brands it could reach the needs of different customers and that it was common business strategy among the European car groups. Volkswagen reaches very different customers with a Bentley to those who buy a Skoda.
William Li also revealed that the second generation Nio Phone will launch this year.

Pre-sales of the Onvo L60 began on May 15 priced at 219,900 yuan (30,500 USD) and yesterday we brought you news that it would likely be available with battery as a subscription for 170,000 yuan (23,500 USD). Alan Ai said yesterday that orders received to date have far exceeded expectations. Previously William Li has claimed the Onvo L60 would outsell the Xiaomi SU7.

The Onvo L60 was penned by former Bentley designer Rahul Pires, and adopts the ‘Way Up’ design concept. It rides on the new NT3.0 platform which is a 900V silicon carbide platform. Sensors consist of seven 8-megapixel high-definition cameras, 4D imagining radar, and four 360-degree cameras. The high definition cameras have a maximum forward detection range of 687 meters. The vision based intelligent driving system will be available from the commencement of deliveries later this year. Inside the L60 has a 17.2-inch 3K control screen with 12,000 nit brightness. It also benefits from a 13-inch head up display.
Sources: Autohome, Fast Technology

 

[Yommie]

Breaking news: HiPhi saved by US company

HiPhi has been saved by US$1 billion cash injection by US registered iAuto Group. Deal leaves many unanswered questions.

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Breaking news: HiPhi saved by US company​

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Mark Andrews

May 17, 2024


1
HiPhi Y electric SUV car on display at the 2023 Shanghai Auto Show.

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According to breaking news HiPhi has been rescued by iAuto through a comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement. The plan sees the investment of 1 billion USD into Human Horizons, the owners of the HiPhi brand. According to a press release the deal was signed on May 10 but the news is only breaking now.

Cooperation between the two parties will allow HiPhi to resume production to fulfill sales orders. Also according to the very vaguely worded press release it will allow “cooperation related to equity restructuring and mergers and acquisitions, technology and research and development, engineering cooperation, brand and marketing integration at home and abroad, supply chain and manufacturing integration and a series of cooperation covering the vehicle business sector.”
The deal seems to involve the creation of a comprehensive restructuring plan using the 1 billion USD first round of funds. Both parties are trying to complete the compliance transaction process before the release of the 2024 semi-annual report. Human Horizons will be receiving support from iAuto in the form of funds, technology and orders.

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.
The big question is who are iAuto? According to the press release they are a leading automotive platform incorporated under the State of Delaware, USA. However a search for the company uncovers very little digital footprint with the presumed website for the company displaying an “Our Website is Currently Undergoing Maintenance” sign. Allegedly founded by a group of financial investment and advisory professionals with extensive experience in the automotive industry the company seems to focus on clean energy vehicles. The press release makes a number of lofty statements regarding the goals of the company. In addition the company holds patents related to low-temperature controllable fusion variable modules in micro-turbine generators, along with something referred to as a super drive system which is meant to have five times better performance than a conventional drive system.
Preview unveiling of the new HiPhi Z in Shanghai, China. A luxury EV billed as a digital GT and set for production in 2022.
HiPhi has been struggling for survival since February when production halted. Founder Ding Lei at the time said that realistically there was only a three month period to turnaround the company. Much speculation surrounded Changan taking over the company but this appears to have come to nothing.

Editor’s note:​

If this deal really has saved HiPhi we are very happy as they are one of the few NEV companies in China that are bringing something different to the table. However, there seem to be a lot of questions over who exactly iAuto actually are and what they do. Perhaps most importantly do they actually have the financial means to make such a deal?

The timing is also strange given that iAuto is meant to be a US company and that recently the US announced it would increase tariffs on Chinese EVs to 100%. Strangely the only press release we could find was also in Chinese.
Sources: press release, Fast Technology

 

[Yommie]

FAW Bestune Pony rolls off production line

FAW Bestune Pony rolls off Yancheng plant production line. FAW outlines plans for new EVs and growth of the factory and sales.

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FAW Bestune Pony rolls off production line​

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Mark Andrews

May 17, 2024


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Today saw the first FAW Bestune Pony micro EV cars roll off the assembly line of the Yancheng factory of FAW Group. These cars will be delivered to the first group of users ahead of the cars official launch on May 28. Also disclosed was FAW’s plans for the Yancheng factory along with two new products, the E311 and E541, to be produced there.

Bestune, formerly known as Besturn, is the mainstream brand of FAW. In recent years Bestune sales have stalled and last year were 120,666 compared to over 370,000 for Hongqi. Around a decade ago Bestune easily outsold FAW’s Hongqi brand.

Part of the plan to revitalize the brand is to make it into a new energy brand starting with the Pony. The Bestune Pony (Xiaoma in Chinese) began presales on April 30 with three models. Prices started at 28,900 yuan (4,000 USD) for the 122 km range Cute Horse and went up to 34,900 yuan (4,850 USD) for the 170 km range Vitality Horse. A three-door, four-seater micro EV it is very much in the style of the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV. It measures in at 3000, 1510 and 1630 mm (l/w/h) while the wheelbase is 1953 mm. Power comes from a 20 kW electric motor which can deliver 85 Nm of torque. Inside technology doesn’t consist of much more than a 7-inch digital instrument display. One good thing is that there is no center console, with the gear selection moved to a knob on the dashboard.

FAW Bestune Pony being produced at the Yancheng Plant in Jiangsu Province
Plans call for seven new energy vehicles over the next 3 years for Bestune, presumably the Pony is the first of these. Next up will be the E311 (product codename) an SUV which will probably debut at the Guangzhou Auto Show later this year. Production of the all-electric SUV is likely to begin late this year or early next year. This will be followed by the E541 sedan. It is possible that the new energy models will be spun off into a different brand. Already the badge on the Pony and E311 is different to the one currently used by Bestune. The brand has also announced that no new fuel models will be developed although existing cars will be remodeled and replaced. By 2028 FAW plans to sell 1 million of its own brand cars a year.
Product roadmap (left) and E311 SUV (right)
The Yancheng Branch of FAW was established in December 2023. Yancheng is a city in Jiangsu Province. Currently the factory there covers 20,000 square meters and can produce 70,000 vehicles a year. By December this year 30 new production lines will be added, and the automation rate increased by 50% along with efficiency increased by 30%. These measures will increase annual capacity to 100,000. Further improvements will see this increase to 150,000 by November 2025 when upgrades to the intelligent manufacturing in six major units will be complete, along with 70% recycling of packaging materials and a 2000 yuan (300 USD) reduction per vehicle in manufacturing costs.
FAW Yancheng factory development

Source: Autohome

 

[Yommie]

Lynk & Co 07 EM-P plug-in hybrid sedan enters market, price starts at 23,500 USD

The Lynk & Co 07 EM-P is equipped with two 7nm Dragon Eagle-1 chips.

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Lynk & Co 07 EM-P plug-in hybrid sedan enters market, price starts at 23,500 USD​

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Dong Yi Chen

May 18, 2024


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On May 17, Geely’s Lynk & Co brand launched its 07 EM-P plug-in hybrid sedan, offering three models for consumers to choose from with a price range of 169,800 – 189,800 yuan (23,500 – 26,300 USD). Delivery will start on May 20.

The Lynk & Co 07 EM-P’s appearance continues The Next Day design language and is built on the CMA Evo architecture. Its side profile is smooth and the A/B/C pillars as well as the roof have all been blackened. Other design features include the popular hidden door handles and frameless doors.
Positioned as a medium-sized sedan, the size of the vehicle measures 4827/1900/1480 mm, and the wheelbase is 2843 mm. Five exterior body colors are available in blue, silver, gray, black, and white. The vehicle runs on 19-inch rims.

The cockpit is equipped with a 92-inch AR-HUD, a 12.3-inch full LCD instrument panel, a 15.4-inch 2.5K central control screen, and a D-shaped steering wheel. The vehicle operating system comes from the LYNK Flyme Auto, powered by two 7-nanometer Dragon Eagle-1 chips, according to Chinese media GeekPark.
The rear passengers have access to the Co Pads behind the first-row seats, which are 12.6-inch detachable screens to allow the users to control the vehicle and provide entertainment for the users.
Other configurations include Bluetooth and NFC keys for entry, two 50W wireless charging pads, 256-color ambient lights, and L2 advanced driving assistance functions. The audio system comes from 23 Harman Kardon speakers. All Nappa leather seats support heating, massage, and ventilation. The standard trunk storage volume is 450 L.

Power comes from a 120 kW/255 Nm 1.5T engine and a 160 kW/350 Nm electric motor, mated to a 3-speed DHT. The top speed is 190 km/h. Its 18.99 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery pack provides a CLTC pure electric range of 126 km and the official 30% to 80% fast charging time is 27 minutes. The previously declared comprehensive range was 1,400 km.
Source: Lynk & Co, dongchedi, GeekPark

 

[Yommie]

New Aito M7 MAX refreshed version starts pre-sale at 41,200 USD in China

Both five-seater and six-seater layouts are offered in two-wheel drive and four-wheel drives.

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New Aito M7 MAX refreshed version starts pre-sale at 41,200 USD in China​

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Dong Yi Chen

May 18, 2024


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This is Aito’s new M7 MAX refreshed version. Its pre-sale started in China on May 17, offering four models, of which the five-seater model has a price tag of 298,000 (41,200 USD) and 318,000 yuan (44,000 USD); the six-seater model has a price tag of 318,000 (44,000 USD) and 338,000 yuan (46,800 USD). The official launch conference will be held on May 31.

Yu Chengdong, Huawei’s Managing Director, indicated that both the new car’s interior and exterior have been upgraded as well as the advanced driving assistance capabilities. For example, the current 126 lines sensing lidar has been upgraded to 192 lines. A new “Interstellar Blue” exterior body color has also been added, bringing the total color options to five including silver, gray, azure blue, and black. In terms of appearance, the front face adopts a closed design with a smaller grille compared to the current model, and the brand logo can be lit up.
In addition, two new 20-inch double seven-spoke and 21-inch double ten-spoke rim options are also available.

The size of the vehicle measures 5020/1945/1760 mm, and the wheelbase is 2820 mm. In terms of power, the new Aito M7 Max refreshed version’s EREV system is expected to remain the same as the current version, consisting of a 1.5T range extender and Huawei electric motor(s), providing two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive options. The maximum power of the rear motor of the two-wheel drive model is 200 kW, and the four-wheel drive model has an additional 130 kW front motor. We’ll watch closely for more specific configuration details approaching the official launch date.
Inside, the cockpit continues to adopt a minimalistic layout center with a minimal number of physical buttons. An orange interior has also been added. There is a new two-spoke steering wheel, a 10.25-inch instrument panel, a large 15.6-inch floating central control screen, a HUD, and the same Schroeder acoustic diffuser technology as the Aito M9.
New Aito M7 MAX refreshed version spy shots
Source: XChuXing, DongCheDi, 36kr, AutoHome

 

[Yommie]

Deepal L07 official images revealed, jointly built by Changan and Huawei

The Deepal L07 is jointly built by Changan and Huawei, with a focus on smart technologies. It can also be seen as the SL03's sister model.

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Deepal L07 official images revealed, jointly built by Changan and Huawei​

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Dong Yi Chen

May 18, 2024


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On May 17, Changan’s Deepal brand released the official images of its L07, a sedan equipped with Huawei’s smart driving system, available in EV and EREV variants. The Deepal L07 can be regarded as the Deepal SL03’s sister model, in which the L07 focuses on smart technology, while the SL03 focuses on sports technology.

To make things confusing, currently, the SL03 is referred to as the L07 in Thailand. There are speculations that Deepal might rename its product series, with sedans starting with L0 and SUVs starting with S0. Deepal CEO, Deng Chenghao, further clarified that the Deepal SL03 will continue to be sold even after the Deepal L07 is launched. It will be interesting to see how Deepal will streamline the name of its current L07 sedan on the Thai market.
Additionally, it is worth mentioning that in November 2023, Changan signed an “Investment Cooperation Memorandum” with Huawei to develop intelligent vehicle driving systems.

Deepal SL03Deepal L07
In terms of appearance, the Deepal L07 continues the design style of the SL03 with several changes. The front adopts an arc shape, which is more radical. The through-type taillight is embellished with an illuminated tail badge in the middle, which is similar to the SL03. An electric rear wing is also supported.
Earlier, the Deepal L07 obtained its sales license from the Chinese regulator. According to the declared information, the car measures 4875/1890/1480 mm with a 2900 mm wheelbase, and the curb weight is 1880/1865 kg. The body length is 55 mm longer than the Deepal SL03 while the other dimensions remain unchanged.
The EV version is equipped with a 185 kW electric motor (model XTDM33) while the EREV version is powered by a 72 kW 1.5L engine (model JL469Q1) and a 160 kW electric motor. Both versions come with lithium iron phosphate battery packs.

Source: Deepal Weibo, Sohu, Chinese MIIT

 

[Yommie]

Geely Icon Butterfly official images revealed, may cost less than 13,800 USD

The Geely Icon is a compact SUV produced by Geely since 2020.

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Geely Icon Butterfly official images revealed, may cost less than 13,800 USD​

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Dong Yi Chen

May 19, 2024


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This is the Geely Icon Butterfly (Chinese name is 玲珑 – Linglong) and may be an entry-level model in the series with a price tag of less than 100,000 yuan (13,800 USD). Currently, there are three Geely Icon models on sale, with the price ranging from 109,900 – 129,900 yuan (15,200 – 18,000 USD). Geely indicated that the new car will be launched in the near future.

Current Geely Icon models
The Geely Icon is a compact SUV produced by Geely since 2020, based on Geely’s BMA platform that also underpins, among others, the Geely Binyue & Proton X50, the Geely Binrui, and the Lynk & Co 06. As of April 2024, 3083 units of the Geely Icon were sold, ranking 22nd in the compact SUV category and 10th in Geely’s overall sales performance.
The overall design of the Geely Icon Butterfly continues that of the current models. The main changes are a new exterior body color and configuration adjustments. From the side, the Geely Icon Butterfly adopts a suspended roof design, paired with hidden door handles and 19-inch multi-spoke rims, which is a change from the current traditional door handles. Geely is expected to launch three versions of the new car in five exterior colors.

The front remains the same, in which the grille adopts a narrow rectangular shape with rounded corners, decorated with thick chrome-plated trim strips. At the same time, the size remains unchanged at 4350/1815/1620 mm and a 2640 mm wheelbase.
Current Geely Icon model
Geely has not revealed the official interior and powertrain specs at this time. For reference, the current model’s cockpit is equipped with a 10.25-inch full LCD instrument panel, a 12.3-inch floating central control screen, and a three-spoke multi-function steering wheel. Furthermore, the current model is powered by a 1.5T four-cylinder engine with a maximum power of 133 kW and a peak torque of 290 Nm, mated to a 7-speed DCT. The official WLTC comprehensive fuel consumption is 6.3L/100km.
We’ll watch closely for more official information!

Source: PCAuto, qq

 

[Yommie]

New Geely Boyue L enters market at 16,000 USD

Power comes from a 1.5T or 2.0T engine.

carnewschina.com

New Geely Boyue L enters market at 16,000 USD​

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Dong Yi Chen

May 19, 2024


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On May 19, Geely launched its new Boyue L compact SUV in China. As a facelift model, the main upgrades are in the cockpit design and configurations. Consumers can choose from a total of four models, priced between 115,700 – 149,700 yuan (16,000 – 20,700 USD), powered by either a 1.5T or 2.0T engine.

The new Geely Boyue L is based on the CMA architecture and measures 4670/1900/1705 mm with a 2777 mm wheelbase. The car runs on optional 18-inch, 19-inch, or 20-inch rims, with the corresponding tire specifications: 235/55 R18, 235/50 R19, and 245/45 R20.

In the exterior, the appearance of the new Geely Boyue L has not changed significantly from the old model, featuring through-type LED light groups and a large front grille.
From the side, the roof has been blackened and slopes downward. The wheel eyebrows and side skirts are wrapped in black scuff plates, coupled with blackened external mirrors and traditional door handles. Additionally, the high-end models come with a panoramic sunroof and an electric tailgate.
Inside, the new Geely Boyue L offers two new interior colors called “Bibo Bay Blue” and “Moonlight Silver Sand White”. A four-spoke D-shaped steering wheel is used, paired with a 10.25-inch full LCD instrument panel and a vertical 13.2-inch central control screen that integrates the Galaxy OS 2.0 car system and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip.

At the same time, the center console has been redesigned with a new panel and a new gear lever, and the physical buttons such as air conditioning adjustment have been added to the front.
The entry-level model comes standard with front side airbags, a rear parking radar, automatic headlights, a leather steering wheel, imitation leather seats, and 6-speaker audio. The high-end models have an additional 11-speaker audio, 72-color ambient lighting, front seat heating/ventilation, mobile phone wireless charging, a 25.6-inch AR-HUD, and advanced driving assistance functions including full-speed adaptive cruise, autonomous parking assist, and remote parking assist.
Power comes from a 1.5T or 2.0T engine, mated to a 7-speed DCT. The maximum power of the 1.5T engine is 133 kW (178 hp) and has a peak torque of 290 Nm while the maximum power of the 2.0T engine is 160 kW (215 hp) and has a peak torque of 325 Nm. The official NEDC comprehensive fuel consumption is 6.3L/100km and 6.7L/100km, respectively.
Source: Geely, dongchedi