Chinese joint venture making the EV Model T?

[botsapper]

The world's number one selling EV is the Tesla 'Model Three' but China's Wuling Hong Guang Mini model made in a joint venture; SAIC Motor, Liuzhou Wuling Motors, and General Motors is the second-highest selling model. As China's top selling EV, the most democraticizing fact is that the base model Hong Guang Mini costs an eighth of a fraction to the cheapest Tesla Model 3. It has a (2020) price starting at $4,162 and fully-optioned out at $5,607, making it one of China's cheapest EV. They have in the works to make even more affordable models. Its standard safety features include anti-lock brakes, tire pressure monitoring sensors, and rear parking sensors. It also has standard features, including air conditioning, power windows, stereo system, 12 storage compartments and 741 liters of trunk space with the rear seats folded down. The all-electric four-seat city car has top speeds of 62 mph and an estimated cruising range of 120 km. Its single electric motor produces 13 kW (17.4 hp) and 62.7 pound-feet of torque for rear wheel drive. There are talks to have it licensed-built in other countries.
https://youtu.be/r0Ks52wZIFk
https://trib.al/BSaMwh2

[thingstodo]

Originally Posted by botsapper

The world's number one selling EV is the Tesla 'Model Three' but China's Wuling Hong Guang Mini model made in a joint venture; SAIC Motor, Liuzhou Wuling Motors, and General Motors is the second-highest selling model. As China's top selling EV, the most democraticizing fact is that the base model Hong Guang Mini costs an eighth of a fraction to the cheapest Tesla Model 3. It has a (2020) price starting at $4,162 and fully-optioned out at $5,607, making it one of China's cheapest EV. They have in the works to make even more affordable models. Its standard safety features include anti-lock brakes, tire pressure monitoring sensors, and rear parking sensors. It also has standard features, including air conditioning, power windows, stereo system, 12 storage compartments and 741 liters of trunk space with the rear seats folded down. The all-electric four-seat city car has top speeds of 62 mph and an estimated cruising range of 120 miles. Its singe electric motor produces 13 kW (17.4 hp) and 62.7 pound-feet of torque for rear wheel drive. There are talks to have it licensed-built in other countries.
https://youtu.be/r0Ks52wZIFk
https://trib.al/BSaMwh2

It may be a tough sell for some of us SUV/Truck loving North Americans ... but for those that value practicality .. it should sell well. Maybe within cities, as the local portion of a rental fleet, and in more congested areas where the average speed is <15 mph in grid-lock anyway

I would not want to be on a freeway in it .. but that's not what it is for.

AND it costs less than ... pretty much ANY golf cart I've seen advertised this year!

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Most of the Wuling range reminded me somehow the Ford's approach, with a single basic platform being used as some sort of one-size-fits-all. IIRC most of the FWD vehicles sold as a Wuling in Indonesia are Baojun rebadges. When it comes to that EV, it wouldn't really surprise me to see it being eventually rebadged as a Chevy in some third-world countries where Wuling minivans and Baojun SUVs are currently available through Chevrolet dealers.

[freebeard]

Considering the competition, not Tesla, but Good Cat and Kandi, are priced in the $15-20K range, how can the WHG Mini be one quarter the cost?

The Good Cat is an ID3 competitor, the Kandi is a closer match.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

I have already seen a small Chery EV within a similar size bracket at an EV show held at a college in Brazil, yet AFAIK Chery still doesn't sell EVs officially here. On a sidenote, maybe that Wuling EV could eventually become a powertrain donor for dune buggies once vehicles with an ICE get effectively banned from the Fernando de Noronha archipelago.

[freebeard]

Way underpowered (IIRC 28hp), unless you use a twin engine 4WD configuration.

[Piotrsko]

28 isn't that far from 36 that the clean air single port engine used. Lot of ty 1 class 7 or 11 sand buggies.

I realize you said 4wd, but catching air at the hill top is not an engineering requirement

[freebeard]

The fresh air system came in during the 40hp era.

VW stale air heater versus fresh air how they work

28/36=0.7777777

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Way underpowered (IIRC 28hp)

Compare it to an early Beetle. On a sidenote, it has more torque than the Opel Corsa I learned to drive on.