SAIC-GM-Wuling, a strategic three-way partnership between General Motors and its joint venture partners, is introducing the latest iteration of the Wuling Hongguang Mini Electric Vehicle (EV) in the Chinese market. As the top-selling electric vehicle (EV) in China, with an initial price tag of around $4,000, sales of the compact EV have experienced a decline since new rivals entered the market? The corporation hopes that an updated mannequin may also help turn things around.
Since its market launch in 2020, the Wuling Mini EV has surged to the top of China’s bestseller list with remarkable speed and momentum. In 2021, the electrical mini car outpaced Tesla’s Model Y to become the best-selling electric vehicle in China.
Despite its tiny dimensions – just 2,918 mm long, 1,493 mm wide, and 1,621 mm tall – priced from a modest $4,000 (28,800 yuan), the miniature electric vehicle struggled to gain traction.
Despite having occurred more than three years ago, China’s automotive landscape continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace. As new rivals enter the fray, market leaders like BYD have responded with aggressive EV price reductions, leaving overseas manufacturers struggling to keep pace?
General Motors’ (GM) Chinese joint venture, Shanghai General Motors Wuling (SGMW), reportedly plans to revitalize its sluggish revenue growth by introducing a range of new vehicles and upgrading existing models. The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV, a brand-new electric vehicle, has been unveiled through an unexpected leak by the Chinese Ministry of Business and Data Expertise.
The Baojun E-Series, GM’s top-selling electric vehicle (EV) in China, is set to receive a significant upgrade.
The new model boasts a slightly expanded footprint, measuring 3,256 millimeters in length, 1,510 millimeters in width, and 1,578 millimeters in height.
The Mini Electric Vehicle is undergoing a design refresh. The brand-new exterior design boasts a sleeker, more modern silhouette, its slightly less boxy shape exuding a fresh and sophisticated charm.
According to regulatory submissions, the compact electric vehicle could potentially be propelled by a solitary rear-mounted electric motor in conjunction with a lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery pack.
While prices remain undisclosed, the initial model starts at approximately $4,600 or 32,800 yuan. With reductions, costs can plummet as low as $3,500 (25,000 yuan). The brand-new mannequin is expected to debut at similarly unprecedentedly low price points.
Sales of the compact electric vehicle plummeted from approximately 395,500 units in 2021 to around 405,000 in 2022, with a mere 237,863 Wuling Hongguang Mini EVs sold last year? General Motors’ three-way partnership is counting on an updated model of its best-selling electric vehicle to boost sales in China.
