[21], With six months in the market, the Mini EV sold 119,255 units in 2020, and ranked as China's and the world's second best selling plug-in car after the Tesla Model 3. [4] Retail deliveries began in China in July 2020. Second, the is offset to the center. [CDATA[ */ With sales commencing as early as September 2020. EV Superstar Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV Now On Sale In Thailand Tesla Is Being Outsold in China By a $4.5K Electric Car - PCMag Australia By subscribing you agree to our Terms of Use and SAIC Motor is the largest partner, with 50.1 percent ownership. It was developed by General Motors, Wuling Motors and state-sponsored SAIC Motor. Perhaps the biggest surprise is that the Mini EV can seat four. While electric sedans and SUVs rapidly proliferate, there continues to be a dearth of drop-top EVs beyond the likes of the cabriolet versions of the Smart ForTwo and Fiat 500e. 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. Wuling is a Chinese car firm youre probably not too familiar with. /* Wuling Hongguang Mini EV Cabrio convertible concept revealed in On top of that, there's a cargo version, which would be brilliant for the suburbs. New Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV Macaron Launches In China - GM Authority Early models did not include a driver airbag, but later models such as the Mini EV Macaron include the feature as standard. 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. The four motor R1T ute starts at under 70 grand in the US and would probably still be competitive after the usual taxes, charges and Government obstacles were cleared most likely walloping buyers around $150k in local trim. Recently we came across a crash test conducted earlier this year in China, which might give us glimpses of what to expect. Its curb weight is around 665 kg. Production will initially be limited to between 100 and 200 cars per month. Whether youre skiing in the backcountry or trampolining in the backyard, we have an activity tracker for you. 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. Sitting at a desk for hours? Pricing for the drop-top version has yet to be determined, but according to .css-vurnku{box-sizing:border-box;margin:0;min-width:0;}Automotive News the convertible will sell for between 100,000 yuan ($20,000) and 200,000 yuan ($42,100).. Given all the other foibles detailed here, that is probably not a bad thing. MORE: Everything micro carsMORE: Everything ChinaMORE: Everything 2021Shanghai motor show. The Macaron is a customized model with three unique paint colors and additional standard features. Copyright Drive.com.au 2023ABN: 84 116 608 158. Your email address will not be published. Despite its ultra-compact dimensions, it somehow boasts 741 liters of storage space (with the rear seats folded) and 12 storage compartments. The Hongguang Mini EV, a joint venture between the Chinese-owned SAIC Motor and US auto giant General Motors (GM), retails for $4,500 (around 3,200 / AU$5600) and is proving a hit against its. A digital dial screen is the only real concession to modern technology and shows driving data such as speed and range along with a nice graphical rendition of the car, plus it acts as the reversing cameras display. [24], The Mini EV listed as the world's top selling plug-in car in January 2021. Check out our Gear teams picks for the best fitness trackers, running gear (including shoes and socks), and best headphones, TurboTax service code 2023: Up to $15 off your purchase, 20% Off - All H&R Block 2023 Tax Software | H&R Block Discount Code, Instacart coupon code: $25 off any size order + free delivery, Extra 20% off sitewide - Dyson promo code, GoPro promo code: 10% off all sitewide purchases + free shipping, 2023 Cond Nast. The Smart is, however, a considerable 170mm wider. A few videos of the convertible circulated around since then, but not much else besides the statement from Wuling. Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV : The Most Selling EV Priced At $4500 Only Car sales in China saw astounding growth until 2018, when sales dipped for the first time since the 1990s. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. The front suspension is McPherson and the rear one is Multi-link dependent type. Fees, charges, conditions and eligibility criteria apply. The model is equipped with the BMS intelligent battery management system, as well as low-temperature pre-heating technology and battery insulation. Surprisingly, the EV has a selector button hidden behind the steering wheel that lets you choose between Eco and Sport modes. Adding to the safety, more than 57% of the Hong Guang MINI EVs body consists of high-strength steel. Samara said that one of his key goals for GM would be to transform operations in Europe into an agile mobility startup. Globally, GM is investing $35 billion dollars in electric and autonomous vehicles by 2025, he said at the time, and we will focus closely on what customers need market by market, and where we will leverage our global investments in the areas of EVs and AVs to compete and win.. But the two-tone paint is still kind of here! 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. These are very limited, with three dials for climate control and a very small LCD screen for the radio. The battery comes preheating and insulation function which allows it to be charged safely and efficiently at low temperatures. Mind you, access to the back is predictably quite tight from both sides, and once youve squeezed yourself in there, legroom is minimal. Under Euro NCAP regulations, for example, electronic stability control (ESC) is mandatory, but the Mini EV lacks that feature. SHUHEI YAMADA, Nikkei Asia Tech chief editor December 20, 2021 11:23 JST. Tesla Teased A Wireless Home Charging Solution On Investor Day, Rad Power Unveils The RadRunner 3 Plus Electric Utility Bike, Scout Motors Will Build Electric Trucks And SUVs In South Carolina, 741 liters of space with the rear seats folded down, 2,917 millimeters long, 1,493 millimeters wide and 1,621 millimeters high, with a 1,940-millimeter wheelbase. Latvian-based armoured vehicle manufacturer Dartz last year confirmed it had signed an agreement to import the electric micro car to Europe. Upgrade your WFH setup and work in style with these comfy WIRED-tested seats. Wolf Warrior X Is This The Smoothest eScooter? All rights reserved. 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. They're not cheap though, and here in Australia suffered from a bit of a Tiddly Cars from Toy Town image. So successful is Wulings Mini EV that not only are Chinese producers rapidly coming up with copycat cars, Wuling itself is busy making different versions of the vehicle, including a forthcoming cabriolet and a long-range version. The controls for the electric windows are located on the center console, next to the drive selector knob. 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*. The Mustang nameplate has been a giant success for Ford locally, and once buyers got over the high-riding SUV vibe of the Mach-E, I reckon we won't be able to get enough of them. A few-times heavier standard car would potentially destroy the Wuling in a similar way as the neighborhood EV was destroyed. Onboard is a 9.3 kWh or 13.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack good for 75 or 169 km, respectively. '&l=' + l : ''; While power isn't cheap in our privatised power nirvana our politicians were so keen to sell us, it is increasingly moving to renewable sources. Macaron is written on the drivers side rear pillar black insert, and the car features color-coordinated white wheels and roof. 25,778 MINI EV's were purchased in China in January alone, compared to . Standard safety features of the Mini EV include anti-lock brakes, tire pressure monitoring sensors, and rear parking sensors. The enchanting little thing looks like loads of fun! The Wuling Hongguang MINI EV Has A Rival: The Chery QQ Ice Cream Is The production Mini EV Cabrio looks less premium than the concept. These are the top discounts weve found across the web. The four-seat Hong Guang Mini, which has top speeds of 62 mph and an estimated cruising range of 120 miles, is being made as a joint venture between SAIC Motor, Liuzhou Wuling Motors, and. measures a miniscule 2,917mm in length, 1,493mm in width, and 1,621mm in height, and rides on a 1,940mm wheelbase. 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. Tiny new electric car beats Tesla Model 3, again, in China - The Driven 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. Privacy Policy. The ForFour is somehow slightly cheaper, so would cost about the same. Nissan's Leaf is the company's only electric passenger car here in Australia and our suggestion here is not going to add to that list. new Date().getTime(), event: 'gtm.js' 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. Ford's first EV locally at least as far as we know is a shrewd pitch to the tradespeople of Australia. The company had teased a convertible model at the 2021 Shanghai Auto Show in April, and claimed that the car would go into production sometime next year. Dartz, a Latvian company known for bulletproof SUVs, was planning to sell the Mini EV as the Freze Nikrob in Europe, but those plans appear to have changed. Mahindra eXUV300 Expected Launch Date & Estimated Price, Mahindra eKUV 100 To Be Launched By End Of 2022, 2023 Mazda MX-30 Crossover SUV Mazdas First Electric Car, Maserati GranTurismo Folgore EV All-Electric Super Sports Car, Mahindra XUV400 EV New Electric compact SUV. Surprisingly, the EV includes a concealed toggle button behind the steering wheel that allows drivers to choose between Eco and Sport modes. In a design choice that perhaps speaks to the affordability of display parts, the instrument panel is a full-color digital screen. Being two-seaters, theyve never really sold well, but the E300 (aka Kiwi EV) in many ways replicates the Mini EV formula, except it costs around twice as much and features a chunky robot-like appearance and desirable features such as fast charging. The Gameboy Edition: A version introduced in March 2022. j = d.createElement( s ), dl = l != 'dataLayer' ? Little safety equipment. 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 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. Priced this low, there is not much insulating the car from road noise. Wuling's tiny electric hatchback that's outsold Tesla Model 3 - CNBC The battery pack is pre-started to warm up and maintain the battery pack temperature at 20-25 C to achieve low-temperature charging efficiency. Thanks to the folding fabric roof and rollover hoops, the cabrio version is strictly a two-seater, though. So such a car, even devoid of bells or whistles, could make electric motoring affordable for a much broader market. China has had a thriving industry in low-speed electric vehicles (LSEVs), which in four-wheel form are more akin to golf carts. The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV is China's best-selling electric vehicle, outselling Tesla and all others. The space might be able to fit something very thin, but the bottom is taken up with charging cables. Peter Anderson spent his high school years reading car mags in the back of class, and is mostly unable to count past the 18 fingers he has. . Wuling Hongguang Mini EV Cabrio: Tiny drop-top revealed Of course there are more out there and many of them will come from China. Even though you cannot buy this car outside of China, if we had to rate it on WIRED's scoring system, we'd charitably give it a 5 out of 10 (Wired: Bargain basement price for an EV. h = d.getElementsByTagName('head')[0], You must appreciate that for many buyers, this will be their first car or their only option, and its infinitely safer than piling a family onto a motorbike or electric scooter. One-pedal driving isn't practical since the automobile takes too long to slow down, owing to its lightweight of 1,543 pounds. We break them all down. 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%. A convertible variant of the Hongguang Mini EV - known as the Cabrio concept - was unveiled overnight at the Shanghai motor show. j.src = We take a look at the cars that could kickstart an EV love affair. RELATED: This Heritage Series Grandeur EV Celebrates Hyundai's 1986 Flagship Sedan. The Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV car body is a Hatchback. Information regarding this small but impressive electric car that is a part . The Wuling Hong Guan Mini EV Cabrio Is Really Happening - Gizmodo Australia Can seat four. s.async = true; all we can say is this EV has every right to be on the top of the affordable EVs list. China Is Eager To Grow EVs And Here Is The Adorable - Gizmodo Australia This is a low-cost entry, low-cost ownership electric car after all, so the small design touches the production model lost arent a big deal. Surprisingly, the EV has a selector button hidden behind the steering wheel that lets you choose between Eco and Sport modes. China EV teardown: A $4,500 'alternative to walking' The Wuling MINI EV from GM costs between $4,000 and $6,000. s = d.createElement('script'); s.src = 'https://au-script.dotmetrics.net/door.js?d=' + document.location.host + '&t=other'; h.appendChild(s); Depending on the spec, the Mini EV is powered by either a 20kW/85Nm or 30kW/110Nm electric motor driving the rear wheels. The GT versions pack a staggering dual-motor set up with 358kW and either 814Nm or 860Nm. Your email address will not be published. w[ l ] = w[ l ] || []; Under the extreme cold and high temperatures of -25 to 45 C, the vehicle has completed 28 tests over 300,000 kilometers. However, cramming folks into those back seats isn't exactly pleasant. Although not as uncomfortable as first expected, the offset pedal position gets tiring after an hour. On the plus side, given the sub-two-meter wheelbase, the turning circle is incredibly tight. 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 score not being a 4 is mainly down to the considerable value on offer here, but we'd find it hard to ignore that lack of safety kit. 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). When compared to one of the cheapest EVs on the market in the United States, the almost $28,000 Nissan Leaf, it's simple to understand why. A single electric motor sends 13kW to the rear wheels, and voltage is drawn from a 9.2kWh lithium-polymer battery, permitting a claimed range of 120km. [19], The Mini EV GameBoy Edition was introduced in March 2022. A Detailed Look At The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV - HotCars It was first manufactured and delivered sometime in July 2020. Id love to get my hands on one of these cars, but we arent likely to see these here for a long time, if ever. Stepping up into the niche is the smallest mass-market EV, and one of the best selling EVs of all time: the Wuling Hongguang Mini. A battery-powered motor lets you enjoy most of the benefits of biking, minus the sweat. Aluminum Alloy is also offered in this EV. However, in the case of the Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV, things look much better. electric van, but we can't for the life of us remember if we've ever seen one in the wild. [12][13] The popularity has been compared to that of kei cars in Japan. Could General Motors at least apply lessons learned from producing this super-cheap EV to other markets? j.async = true; 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. GM reveals tiny, adorable electric convertible to be sold in China - CNN To revist this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. The wheels look nearly identical, though, and so does the A-pillar and most everything above the door. Part of the reason for this is the simplicity of the design. But Ford has more. Tesla Giga Mexico To Be Two Times Bigger Than Giga Texas? Electric vehicles should be going great guns at the moment we've all been trapped in the country (and mostly our states) for months, there's nothing to do and for some reason we're paying pre-GFC prices for our petrol. The production model probably wont get the body-coloured mirror, either. 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. The Hong Guang MINI EV has a practical "small on the outside, big on the inside" design. * MINI Finance, Australian Credit Licence 392387. ( function( w, d, s, l, i ) { The compact dimensions make it ideal for urban commuting and parking in tight spaces, yet the interior still has up to 741 liters of space with the rear seats folded down. Depending on the spec, the Mini EV is powered by either a 20kW/85Nm or 30kW/110Nm electric motor driving the rear wheels. Among the Macaron's many improvements over the basic Mini EV is a key safety featurethe driver now gets an airbag standard. GM's Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV Gets New Upscale Trim Level The Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV was crash tested against another EV - an ultra-cheap neighborhood electric vehicle (with lead-acid batteries) that's hilariously trying to resemble the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. Nissan's Leaf remains the cheapest electric car in the US market, with the entry-level model priced at $20,875 (after the $7,500 federal tax credit). The ID.4's SUV-like approach is also likely to play well with Australians, and we know it's already coming so one imagines the local business just doesn't think the ID.3 will resonate with Australian buyers. WIRED may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Wuling Hongguang Mini EV Review: Cheap Electric City Car - Wired Take a bite of these third-party apps instead. The driver would have a chance to survive with some leg and head injury. It also comes with the anti-lock braking system (ABS) with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and reversing radar. We believe that most of the Wuling Hong Guang MINI EVs are driving on the streets and there is always a risk that such a crash might happen. The 27 Best Mac Apps That Will Make Your Life Easier. China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) data has revealed that the Hong Guang Mini EV . It can be charged using a 220V three-pin plug at a household and is equipped with a high-efficiency charging gun with easy storage. Watch Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV Crash Test With Other EV - InsideEVs A joint venture between GM and Chinese businesses Wuling and SAIC saw the introduction of the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV in July 2020. 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? The WIRED conversation illuminates how technology is changing every aspect of our livesfrom culture to business, science to design. It is a three-door electric microcar that, while not new in China, is the first to achieve widespread success. A Detailed Look At The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV, The Tata Avinya Concept Puts India On The Global EV Map. VW is so far resisting calls to bring the Golf-sized ID.3 here to Australia, citing Government policy as a blocker. A dual waistline along with obvious arches for the 12 inches wheels accent very boxy looks. William Davis has written for Drive since July 2020, covering news and current affairs in the automotive industry. It was founded in 2007 in the city of Liuzhou, near the border with Vietnam. The Hong Guang Mini EV (really doesn't roll off the tongue, does it?) It would also ward off one of the Ami's drawbacks it's left-hand drive only. This one is a proper long shot, but we stand by it, no matter what you say even if it is entirely reasonable. Wuling Launches Hong Guang MINI EV - EV Obsession The Cabrio is set to go into production in China in 2022, with a rebadged variant called the Freze Nikrob Cabrio being available in Europe. His favorite cars are anything with a manual transmission, and he's been known to spend hours just shifting through all the gears.