The compact car is proving a big hit for state-owned SAIC
Motor, China's top automaker.
The Hong Guang Mini EV is being built as part of a joint
venture with US car giant General Motors (GM).
Last month sales of the budget electric car in China were
around double those of Tesla, which was questioned this month over safety
issues there.
While the $4,500 Hong Guang Mini is the most popular model,
there is an upgraded one with air conditioning for just over $5,000. The cars
are being marketed as "the people's commuting tool".
The joint venture partnership, SAIC-GM-Wuling, is known as
Wuling locally.
Having launched last year, the basic model has a top speed
of 100km/h (62mph) and can accommodate four people at a squeeze.
"China's government is serious about pollution
reduction and becoming the global lead in adopting and promoting innovation of
electric vehicles," Shaun Rein, managing director of the China Market
Research Group, told the BBC.
"We remain very bullish on the adoption of budget EVs
like the Hong Guang Mini to higher end ones like NIO and Tesla."
To promote EVs, the Chinese government offers license plates
for free and they are guaranteed. In many cities, it can take months, if not
years, to get a license plate for a petrol engine through various auction
systems.
Taking on Tesla
Earlier this month five Chinese regulators summoned Tesla
over quality and safety issues at its plant. China is Tesla's largest market
after the US.
For January, Hong Guang Mini sales outstripped Tesla almost
two-to-one. It is now believed to be the second-best-selling electric model
worldwide behind the Model 3.
The tiny, all-electric EV sold 25,778 models in China in
January according to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). This compares
to 13,843 for the Tesla Model 3.
But high-end electric vehicles have still been performing
well with Tesla more than doubling its sales volume in China last year.
The Model 3 sells for about $39,000 (£27,000) in China
factoring in price cuts due to its local production.
The Hong Guang Mini EV could make an appearance outside
China, as Wuling has said it plans to export the EV overseas.
"China has so many makers of small and cheap electric
vehicles, however most of them are low-quality and low-speed products that do
not appeal to a wide market, said Sam Fiorani, at Auto Forecast Solutions.
"The Hong Guang Mini is the first time a major company
has stepped up with a simple EV that targets buyers looking for a real
car."
Reports have linked Wuling to a Latvian automaker who could
sell a version of the car in Europe. However, the price is likely to be twice
as high due to European environmental requirements. Source Link
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