'gtm.start': According to Autohome, the micro electric two-door is slated to hit showrooms in 2022 and (at least initially) will be sold exclusively in China. [9], A 26.5kWh model is due for 2022, with 280 kilometres (170mi) (CLTC) estimated range, an optional more powerful 30kW (40hp; 41PS) motor, and an improved interior. It was founded in 2007 as a joint venture between Wuling Group and Dragon Hill Holdings in Liuzhou, Guangxi, China. w[ l ] = w[ l ] || []; The Hong Guang Mini EV saw sales of 112,000 for the second half of 2020, ranking second behind Tesla's Model 3 which are made in its Shanghai factory. } ()); The driver would have a chance to survive with some leg and head injury. Based in New York, New York, Derek loves to travel and is very much a window not an aisle person. 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. The WIRED conversation illuminates how technology is changing every aspect of our livesfrom culture to business, science to design. The Battery Capacity, which is one of the most important parts of an Electric Vehicle, is 9.3 kWh or 13.9 kWh. This electric car is so popular among Chinese drivers that Wuling is making a cabrio model for 2022 despite convertibles not selling well in the country, as Car News China reports. Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV - Electric Vehicle Specs Hard plastics are everywhere, and you can see the screw that attaches the door handle insert to the door. 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. You can get one through the usual JDM importers for not-insane money, but without factory backing, life might be difficult if the battery needs recalling etc. WIREDs is in avocado green, but the model is also available in lemon yellow and white peach pink. s.src = 'https://au-script.dotmetrics.net/door.js?d=' + document.location.host + '&t=other'; h.appendChild(s); As EVs make their inroads, the little Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV is leading the way. j.src = At the very first look, the car also looks small than usual cars. Each features a slightly different exterior finish, different wheels, and different trim. } ()); Unfortunately, Wheelsboy says youll never forget how cheap it is. Upgrade your WFH setup and work in style with these comfy WIRED-tested seats. The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV ( Chinese: MiniEV) is a battery electric city car manufactured by SAIC-GM-Wuling since 2020. Discover the city streets in a MINI Electric Hatch or MINI Countryman Hybrid with a 5.99% p.a comparison rate on a 36-month MINI Flex agreement*. Externally, the Macaron version distinguishes itself from the standard Mini EV with a choice of funky pastel colors. You already know where this is going the Honda E. We're obviously not privy to the behind-closed-doors discussions that go on at car companies, but the local arm's decision to pass on one of the coolest cars on the planet, EV or not, is bizarre. In his spare time Derek loves chasing automotive rabbits down the hole. margin-top: -19px; And with such small wheels, you feel every pothole, all the more so given the poorly padded seats. We could live with sitting on the wrong side of the Ami, which is barely wider than the Renault Twizy, but driving on the wrong side of a massive van would be no fun at all. In . Tesla Is Being Outsold in China By a $4.5K Electric Car - PCMag Australia The latest on tech, science, and more: Get our newsletters! 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. Once in the drivers seat, you immediately notice two issues. But as a cheap introduction to electric family motoring, the car is infinitely safer and better than a scooter or motorbike. That's 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. The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV is China's best-selling electric vehicle, outselling Tesla and all others. I know Id rather have to change out that tiny bulb when it goes out than have to mess with an entire LED array. Or is it? The Macaron version gains a reversing camera, which the screen also shows. Produced by SAIC-GM (GM) -Wuling, a company partially owned by General Motors, the Hong Guang Mini EV sells at a starting price that's equivalent to about $4,400. Slightly more substantial than the Ami, and rather more expensive, is Smart's ForTwo and ForFour which could probably land here well under forty grand. Bit of a slam dunk this one. I imagine it wont be that different from the roofed models. WIRED may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. [24], The Mini EV listed as the world's top selling plug-in car in January 2021. GM's Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV Gets New Upscale Trim Level Under Euro NCAP regulations, for example, electronic stability control (ESC) is mandatory, but the Mini EV lacks that feature. a claimed 500 kilometre driving range (optimistic EPA number) and a ton of features, Rivian would struggle to meet demand, as it is already in its home market. It's called the Hong Guang Mini EV, and one of its major selling points is the fact it only costs $4,500 (or $5,000 with air conditioning). However, in the case of the Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV, things look much better. So an incredibly cheap, bare-bones city car makes a lot of sense. The Mini EV Macaron: A version of the normal Mini EV introduced in April 2021. Tesla's biggest rival in China is the Wuling HongGuang Mini EV that starts at around $4,200. [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. However, there are currently no plans to sell the vehicle in Australia. Thanks to the folding fabric roof and rollover hoops, the cabrio version is strictly a two-seater, though. Tired: Limited to being a city car. /* Wuling Hongguang Mini EV - Wikipedia Apples tablet lineup is more confusing than ever. As of January2022[update], sales since inception have passed 500,000 units, and the Mini EV has become the best-selling electric car in China. There's no dreamland Ford e-Ranger or Toyota e-HiLux talk here because they don't exist yet and we already know whoever gets to the dual-cab ute market with a sensibly-priced electric version could end up ruling the world. /* ]]> */ The ForFour is somehow slightly cheaper, so would cost about the same. A convertible variant of the Hongguang Mini EV known as the Cabrioconcept was unveiled overnight at the Shanghai motor show. j = d.createElement( s ), dl = l != 'dataLayer' ? Apple has several models in its lineup, from the iPhone SE to the iPhone 14 Plus. In January,CarAdvice reported a hard-top variant of the Hongguang Mini EV designed and built as part of a collaboration betweenSAIC and General Motors outsold the Tesla Model 3 in Chinathroughout January 2021, thanks in part to its impressive AU$5700price tag. Potential buyers will need to enter a lottery in order to buy one., Wuling says production could expand if theres enough demand.. electric van, but we can't for the life of us remember if we've ever seen one in the wild. No spare tire is given as well. 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. Onboard is a 9.3 kWh or 13.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack good for 75 or 169 km, respectively. 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. There are also Isofix child-seat attachments, and the seats are indeed best for childrenthe lack of real headrests for adults makes any extended trip a strain. Despite its ultra-compact dimensions, it somehow boasts 741 liters of storage space (with the rear seats folded) and 12 storage compartments. There are also Isofix child-seat connectors, and the seats are best designed for children or short journeys. This change is because the new version will have a . Wuling itself may be hoping to replicate the Mini EVs success with its forthcoming Air EV, which appears to be a move into pricier models and could conceivably signal a desire to go after overseas markets. Theres no Park setting, though: the handbrake is the only way to hold the Mini EV. Charging on a 220V supply takes 6.5 hours for the smaller battery and a full 9 hours for the 13.8 kWh pack. In October last year, Tesla cut the price of the Model 3 . The ground clearance offered is 125 mm. Lots of people ask why there aren't any small EVs on the market (we quickly explain there are several), and the talk quickly turns to price. form, despite all indications pointing to its untimely end. The Hong Guang MINI EV has a top speed of about 100 km/h, seats four and looks like a Japanese kei car. Wuling's tiny electric hatchback that's outsold Tesla Model 3 - CNBC Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Perhaps the local arm should consider Ford's idea of a much larger unit, the Master Z.E.? While there is a hatch at the back, there is no real trunk to speak of. Safer than a scooter. dm.AjaxData.push({ et: et,d: d,ssid: ssid,ad: ad}); The same cannot be said for the steering, which is generally imprecise. The Macaron is a more luxury and personalized model with modified darkened LED headlights, two-tone alloy wheels, and unique body colors. 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. A new all-electric car that is tiny in both size and price has again outsold the Tesla Model 3 in China on a month-by-month basis, with sales of the Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV almost doubling those of Telsa's hugely popular global best-seller in January 2021. We may not legally be able to get ahold of the Mini EV as it sells in China, but there is an outside chance GM will be using the know-how gained from producing this budget electric car to release a US or European EV that retails below the $10,000 mark. General Motors (GM) has released new, colorful versions of China's best-selling electric car, the tiny Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV. Uncover exclusive deals and discounts with a VIP referral to Australia's best dealers, Tesla details Model Y suspension changes, more updates coming, Mazda's largest SUV here in August with hybrid-beating efficiency. The production Mini EV Cabrio looks less premium than the concept. Posted on April 19, 2021. A battery-powered motor lets you enjoy most of the benefits of biking, minus the sweat. var d = document, 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. Aluminum Alloy is also offered in this EV. The results: left - driver, right - passenger in the rear: Well, if this is the result of a 50% frontal crash with a light neighborhood electric vehicle, it's scary to think what would happen if it would be a standard car (1,200-2,400 kg). 25,778 MINI EV's were purchased in China in January alone, compared to . At the end of last year, professor Masayoshi Yamamoto at Nagoya University took apart a car shipped to Japan to see how it was possible to produce the vehicle so cheaply. You can whine all you like about the size, but large American trucks are selling here even after expensive right-hand drive conversions. The Mini EV has appealed to younger buyers in China, and he feels GM could target a similar demographic in the US, or in an emerging market, where a small city car would appeal. [19], The Mini EV GameBoy Edition was introduced in March 2022. ( function( w, d, s, l, i ) { State-backed SAIC-GM-Wuling, a company partly owned by GM,. Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV has overtaken Tesla Model 3 as the world's most popular electric vehicle for the first time, according to the EV Sales blog. Aesthetically, the production vehicle is unlikely to change dramatically from its concept form. The Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV car body is a Hatchback. Your email address will not be published. 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. Ad Choices. window.dm.AjaxEvent = function(et, d, ssid, ad){ In comparison to the previous standard trim level, the Macaron gets extra safety features, including a low-speed pedestrian alert, a reversing camera with rear parking sonar, and a driver-side airbag. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. Tesla Giga Mexico To Be Two Times Bigger Than Giga Texas? Demand for this tiny BEV . The production version vehicle body design is based on Mini EV GameBoy Edition and was launched in September 2022. measures a miniscule 2,917mm in length, 1,493mm in width, and 1,621mm in height, and rides on a 1,940mm wheelbase. A shame, but if it could land at a mid-$30k price point, French car fans are just mad enough to do it. This is enough to accommodate two 26-inch suitcases or a stroller. 'gtm.start': The Wuling MINI EV from GM costs between $4,000 and $6,000.