The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV is a battery electric vehicle (BEV). As of January 2022, sales since inception have passed 500,000 units, and the Mini EV has become the best-selling electric car in China. The electric motor that comes in this Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV is 20 kW. Surprisingly, the EV has a selector button hidden behind the steering wheel that lets you choose between Eco and Sport modes. s.async = true; The Hong Guang MINI EV has a top speed of about 100 km/h, seats four and looks like a Japanese kei car. The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV is China's best-selling electric vehicle, outselling Tesla and all others. Mechanically, the Hong Guang MINI EV Macaron is equipped with a small electric motor that generates 20 kW (27 horsepower) and 85 Nm (62.7 pound-feet) of torque, up from the 13-kW (17.4-horsepower . Classified as a microcar, this Mini EV has done a fairly good job at keeping up with Tesla for worldwide EV shipments in 2021 (approx 424,138 shipments / deliveries). Sport mode appears to be the superior option, offering significantly faster acceleration and more obvious brake regeneration. new Date().getTime(), event: 'gtm.js' However, cramming folks into those back seats isn't exactly pleasant. If we arent limited by business model, the data could be used to develop a shared car, or a ride-hailing city car, that could be used in city centers where passenger cars are banneda growing and likely permanent trend, he says. With seven seats (that'll be popular, don't you think?) Could General Motors at least apply lessons learned from producing this super-cheap EV to other markets? The back seats are equipped with two ISOFIX child safety seat restraint interfaces to cater to young families. Given all of its other flaws, that's probably not a terrible thing. China has had a thriving industry in low-speed electric vehicles (LSEVs), which in four-wheel form are more akin to golf carts. Bit of a slam dunk this one. [20] Its exterior has been completely restyled with larger dimension, while the power remains to be unchanged and carried over from the standard Mini EV producing 27hp (20kW; 27PS) and 85Nm (63lbft) or 40hp (30kW; 41PS) and 110Nm (81lbft), mated to a 9.2, 13.9, or 25.5 kWh battery. These are very limited, with three dials for climate control and a very small LCD screen for the radio. Thats a considerable price premium over the regular Hongguang Mini EV, which starts from just 32,800 yuan ($6900) and stretches to 69,8000 yuan ($14,700) for a fully-loaded Game Boy edition. Wolf Warrior X Is This The Smoothest eScooter? The Macaron and Cabrio versions are likely to strengthen the Hong Guang MINI EV's market share in China, where it has already surpassed Tesla as the best-selling electric vehicle. [12][13] The popularity has been compared to that of kei cars in Japan. I know Id rather have to change out that tiny bulb when it goes out than have to mess with an entire LED array. The lack of proper headrests for adults makes any long journey a challenge. Demand for this tiny BEV . window.dm.AjaxEvent = function(et, d, ssid, ad){ Nikes most popular racing shoe is getting a reboot, The bird flu outbreak has taken an ominous turn, New Zealand faces a future of flood and fire, Explore AI like never before with our new database, Want the best tools to get healthy? Not only did Wuling sling 15,000 units in only its first 20 days on the market, but its currently beating Tesla Model 3 sales almost two to one, InsideEVs reports. We break them all down. The Mini EV is a step up from this levelcloser to a Japanese kei micro car. In December, GM announced that Mahmoud Samara, a VP for Cadillac North America, had been made president of GM Europe. Exterior specifications of Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV This Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV car is 2917 mm long, 1493 m wide, and 1621 mm in height with a wheelbase of 1940 mm. A dual waistline along with obvious arches for the 12 inches wheels accent very boxy looks. Both of these only seat two people, and the E200 is also sold in a slightly restyled manner as the Wuling Nano, with a more powerful motor and longer ranges. But Ford has more. A battery-powered motor lets you enjoy most of the benefits of biking, minus the sweat. In his spare time Derek loves chasing automotive rabbits down the hole. China Sends a Warning to the U.S. About Domestic EV Battery Production, Global EV Adoption Hits New High of 20 Million Thanks to Tiny Electric Cars, Electric Cars Sold In Record Numbers Globally In 2021, A Serious Threat to Tesla Emerges in Nissan. He has maintained a primary focus on industry trends, autonomous technology, electric vehicle regulations, and local environmental policy. If you're stuck in a lift with us for long enough we will start trying to convince you that EV uptake will not be led by private buyers, but by tradies and small business. It was developed by General Motors, Wuling Motors and state-sponsored SAIC Motor. 'gtm.start': var d = document, However, there are currently no plans to sell the vehicle in Australia. A convertible variant of the Hongguang Mini EV - known as the Cabrio concept - was unveiled overnight at the Shanghai motor show. After all, the car is less than 3 meters long, 2,920 mm to be precise. Sport seems to be the better of the two modes, providing not only slightly smarter acceleration but also more noticeable braking regeneration. They're not cheap though, and here in Australia suffered from a bit of a Tiddly Cars from Toy Town image. if(typeof window.DotMetricsObj != 'undefined') {DotMetricsObj.onAjaxDataUpdate();} Although not as uncomfortable as first expected, the offset pedal position gets tiring after an hour. Can seat four. The EV has a lot more room in this arrangement. Now you can get the top stories from Gizmodo delivered to your inbox. China's best-selling EV is tiny and incredibly affordable, and will soon become one of the few convertible EVs available today, or ever. It is the essential source of information and ideas that make sense of a world in constant transformation. Updated daily with news on EV cars, EV bikes, EV scooters, electric vehicles Trends and market, commercial EVs, sales reports as well as detailed reviews by experts. [18], In 2021 Lithuanian company Nikrob UAB announced a rebadged version of the Mini EV called the FreZe Nikrob with knock-down assembly in Vilnius, Lithuania. Given the rudimentary nature of the cabin, its no surprise that materials are utilitarian. Aesthetically, the production vehicle is unlikely to change dramatically from its concept form. The Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV, introduced by the SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture (between SAIC, GM and Liuzhou Wuling Motors), is no one of the most popular EVs in China. This screenoffers basic information such as speed, range, and electricity consumption, along with a natty 3D rendering of the Mini EV. However, the rear seats do individually push down and pull up with a strap, which is essential if you want to transport anything other than people. [14] The vehicle has been such a success that it has inspired a number of copycats and competitors, including the Chery QQ Ice Cream, Dongfeng Fengguang MINI EV,[15] and BAW S3. it has halogen headlamps and halogen bulbs in indicators and rear lights. A convertible variant of the Hongguang Mini EV known as the Cabrioconcept was unveiled overnight at the Shanghai motor show. Depending on the spec, the Mini EV is powered by either a 20kW/85Nm or 30kW/110Nm electric motor driving the rear wheels. But as a cheap introduction to electric family motoring, the car is infinitely safer and better than a scooter or motorbike. And the lack of rear headrests would make anything but short journeys tiring on the neck. window.dm.AjaxEvent = function(et, d, ssid, ad){ Onboard is a 9.3 kWh or 13.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack good for 75 or 169 km, respectively. The Wuling MINI EV from GM costs between $4,000 and $6,000. An electrified version of Tatas Nanowhich is dubbed the world's cheapest car, costs just over $2,000, and is getting surprisingly decent reviewshas been rumored for some time now. Wayward steering.) . First, the driving position is very high and the seats are non-height-adjustable. DAP Pricing Unless otherwise stated, all prices are shown as Manufacturer's Recommended List Price (MRLP) inclusive of GST, exclusive of options and on road costs. Astonishingly, the company is reportedly making less than $14 profit on each car. 38 Photos Wuling - Hong Guang MINI EV specs: Two battery/range options 120 km (75 miles) of range using 9.3 kWh battery 170 km (106 miles) of range using 13.9 kWh battery top speed of 100 km/h. 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id=' + i + dl; A few-times heavier standard car would potentially destroy the Wuling in a similar way as the neighborhood EV was destroyed. It also weighs a . And who doesn't want to see F-Series based ambulances again? SAIC Motor is the largest partner, with 50.1 percent ownership. new Date().getTime(), event: 'gtm.js' . Similar clues to the budget nature of the build quality are shown in areas such as a simple bare screw attaching the door pulls in the front. [24], The Mini EV listed as the world's top selling plug-in car in January 2021. The same is not said for the steering, which is quite sloppy. All the Settings You Should Change on Your New Samsung Phone, Give Your Back a Break With Our Favorite Office Chairs, What to Do When Netflix Wont Let You Share Your Password, The 12 Best Electric Bikes for Every Kind of Ride, The Best iPad to Buy (and a Few to Avoid). This one is a proper long shot, but we stand by it, no matter what you say even if it is entirely reasonable. Which, again, in the case of the ForTwo is not completely unfair. The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV is a little electric vehicle (EV) that's been making waves bigger than its 12-inch wheels can ever suggest: it's been outselling Teslas and traversing floods in China, and its entry into Thailand and Indonesia have also got Malaysians excited.. Part of the massive sales numbers and interest - Chinese customers have bought over 500,000 of these since June 2019 . In October last year, Tesla cut the price of the Model 3 . The front suspension is McPherson and the rear one is Multi-link dependent type. Yes, the Citroen Ami is a quadricycle like the pilloried and terrifying Gee Whiz, but it's made by a proper car company Stellantis. The Master is a versatile panel van, available as either a platform cab or cab chassis, with a ton of space and a usable city driving range. Theres a choice of a 9.3kWh or 13.8kWh battery pack. But GM and SAIC have been working together for 24 years. The batterys functions can be remotely monitored via a smartphone app. Thats actually not too bad for the price of four Changlis. Wuling is tight-lipped about acceleration statistics, but the car isn't particularly sluggish because it's electric and has immediate torque. The tiny EV is made available only as a left-hand drive vehicle by local grey importers and is understood to not offer a warranty of any sort. Under Euro NCAP regulations, for example, electronic stability control (ESC) is mandatory, but the Mini EV lacks that feature. The ForTwo is about 19,000 in the UK which could translate to a low to mid-$30k price tag. Potential buyers will need to enter a lottery in order to buy one., Wuling says production could expand if theres enough demand.. It's highly likely theCabrio will share the fixed-roof model's same powertrain. The front and rear lighting also appear less premium, going from two circular LEDs that looked like the headlights on the Honda e to a blockier shape that looks more like the c-shaped lights on a a lot of modern trucks. } ); That the colors are a collaboration with Pantone speaks volumes; the Mini EV has managed a cult following, and the Macaron is clearly aimed at the young and cool. electric van, but we can't for the life of us remember if we've ever seen one in the wild. Standard safety features of the Mini EV include anti-lock brakes, tire pressure monitoring sensors, and rear parking sensors. Onboard is a 9.3 kWh or 13.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack good for 75 or 169 km, respectively. [5] Overview [ edit] Rear view } ()); To further aid in the adoption of EVs, the Chinese government has announced measures to boost sales, from Automotive News: The government will encourage steady increases on spending on cars and abolish excessive restrictions on the sale of used vehicles, Premier Li Keqiang told the National Peoples Congress in Beijing on Friday. It would also ward off one of the Ami's drawbacks it's left-hand drive only. Chinese government incentives include extending subsidies on NEV purchases, expediting a clear-out of older polluting vehicles, reducing taxes on used-car dealers and promoting electric-car sales in rural areas. According to Nikkei Asia, 112,000 units of the Hong Guang Mini EV were sold in China between July and the end of 2020, making it the country's second best-selling EV after the Tesla Model 3. Sport seems to be the better of the two modes, providing not only slightly smarter acceleration but also more noticeable braking regeneration. People in China arent buying the Mini EV for its design; theyre buying it at a reported rate of 1,800 models per day because its cheap and its range is good enough. In 2003, China became, for a time, the second-largest single market for GM, selling Chinese-only versions of Buicks and launching Chevrolet in the jurisdiction in 2005. Here you can see more details about the technical specification of the Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV. Rivian has two giant electric trucks, which will upset people who don't want these massive things bearing down on them, and the company says it has strong interest from local buyers. Now, a new entry into Chinas Ministry of Industry and Information Technology confirms that the Mini EV Cabrio is coming to market, per Car News China. We already know the e-2008 compact SUV is on its way but the French car's importer remains cagey on the e-208. Mind you, access to the back is predictably quite tight from both sides, and once youve squeezed yourself in there, legroom is minimal. Surprisingly, the EV has a selector button hidden behind the steering wheel that lets you choose between Eco and Sport modes. Perhaps the biggest surprise is that the Mini EV can seat four. Baojun, on the other hand, is a Wuling sub-brand aimed at the car market and was earlier to micro EVs than its parent company, with both the Smart-like E100 and E200. Now the Hong Guang Mini. Leading to the assumption . Notably, the upscale variant of the Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV will have a slightly larger body as the wheelbase grows from 76.4 to 79.1 inches. The Macaron is a customized model with three unique paint colors and additional standard features. s = d.createElement('script'); But with a parcel shelf right next to the driver, they can just pick what they need, swing open the door and step straight out onto the pavement. The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers expects sales to rise for the first time in three years, as it projects 27.2 million units to be sold in the country. But you will know the others involved in the joint venture that builds the Mini EV: General Motors has a 44% share andMG parent firm SAIC 50.1%, with Wuling the remaining 5.9%. The production version vehicle body design is based on Mini EV GameBoy Edition and was launched in September 2022.