Last August, deliveries of a new low-cost electric car began in China. We are talking about the Wuling Hongguang MINI manufactured by a joint venture between the Asian SAIC and the North American General Motors. It has had a reception that has exceeded the best expectations.
According to the registration data, only during August, 15,000 units have been delivered, which has allowed this sub-brand to shoot its deliveries 110% compared to the same period last year. All thanks to this small low-cost electric that has been a revolution in a sub-brand that has seen its accumulated sales figures for the year soared to 18,300 units.
But undoubtedly, the most surprising data is the number of pending orders. In total, the Chinese manufacturer has reported that it has 50,000 firm orders and that they will have to be delivered in the coming months. Figures that make it one of the most popular electric cars globally, and by far the best-selling in the urban electric segment.
The key to this success is a combination of minimally worked design, minimal and even higher than expected qualities in the interior, and above all, a demolition price. A model with three doors, four seats, but is just 2.9 meters long. Ideal for moving around the city.
It does not renounce equipment that even the average European models did not mount recently, such as LED lights or four-wheel disc brakes, with a minimalist and straightforward interior where there is no room for too many flourishes—all in low-cost post.
On a mechanical level, the Wuling Hongguang has a simple 20 kW (27 hp) engine that allows it to reach 100 km/h. For its part, the battery is a 13.8 kWh pack, which, according to the manufacturer, will enable it to achieve a range of 100 miles.
A proposal for the moment only for China, where those interested can take a unit for just 29,800 yuan. A real bargain for a product designed to move around cities, where parking space is minimal, and distances are shorter, which, as we see, has achieved a sufficiently competitive set to convince buyers massively. In addition, with the absence of the data of the rest of the models, it could have possibly made it the best-selling electric vehicle in the Chinese market, surpassing the Tesla Model 3.