New Wuling Hongguang Mini EV (Source: China's MIIT)
GM's joint venture SAIC-GM-Wuling (SGMW) is launching the updated Wuling Hongguang Mini EV in China. Once the best-selling EV in China, with prices starting at around $4,000, mini EV sales have declined as new competition enters the market. The company hopes that the updated model can help turn things around.
After entering the market in 2020, the Wuling Mini EV quickly climbed the sales charts in China. In 2021, the small electric car surpassed Tesla's Model Y to become the best-selling EV in China.
Despite its extremely small dimensions of 2,918 mm long, 1493 mm wide, and 1,621 mm tall, starting at $4,000 (28,800 yuan), the mini EV was hard to pass up.
However, that was more than three years ago, and China's auto market is moving fast. The new competition has led to drastic EV price cuts for market leaders such as BYD, making it difficult for foreign automakers to keep up.
Looks like GM's SGMW has a plan to revive sales. The new Wuling Hongguang Mini EV was leaked by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China in the latest release.
GM's best-selling EV in China will be upgraded
The specifications reveal that the new model is slightly larger at 3,256 mm in length, 1,510 mm in width, and 1,578 mm in height.
You'll also notice the Mini EV is gaining ground. The new exterior design is a development with a small box, a modern shape.
According to the regulatory filing, the mini EV will be powered by a single rear electric motor and a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery.
Although prices have not been revealed, the current model starts at around $4,600 (32,800 yuan). With discounts, prices can drop as low as $3,500 (25,000 yuan). The new model is expected to be launched at the same very low prices.
Sales of the small electric car have dropped from about 395,500 in 2021 to about 405,000 in 2022, and last year, only 237,863 Wuling Hongguang Mini EVs were sold. GM's joint venture hopes an updated version of its best-selling EV can help boost sales in China.
Source: China MIIT, CarNewsChina
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