China speed at its best. Also #3 top trim has 422 HP.
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Category: China
Smart begins Smart #3 deliveries in China 20 days after launch
The first Smart #3 vehicles were delivered in 41 cities. To date, Smart has completed 164 offline stores in China.
(Image credit: CnEVPost)
The tight pace of new models from launch to delivery is one of the most important features of the highly competitive Chinese electric vehicle (EV) market.
Smart Automobile, a joint venture between Geely and Mercedes-Benz, began deliveries of the Smart #3 in China yesterday, just 20 days after the model's official launch.
Smart announced on Wednesday that the first Smart #3 vehicles were delivered in 41 cities, including Shanghai, Beijing, Nanjing, Chengdu and Xi'an, without disclosing the exact number of vehicles delivered.
(Image credit: Smart)
Smart officially launched the Smart #3 in China at an event on June 1, its second model after the Smart #1 following its electrification transition.
The Smart #3 is available in three regular versions -- Pro+, Pulse and Premium -- starting at RMB 209,900 ($29,240), RMB 239,900 and RMB 255,900 respectively.
The model is also available in a limited edition Brabus Performance version of only 1,999 units at RMB 289,900.
The car is positioned as a coupe SUV with a length, width and height of 4,400/4,542 mm, 1,844 mm and 1,556 mm respectively, and a wheelbase of 2,785 mm.
The Smart #1 measures 4,270 mm in length, 1,822 mm in width and 1,636 mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,750 mm.
This means that the Smart #3 is longer and wider than the Smart #1, but lower.
The Smart #3 is available with two power options, a single-motor version with 200 kW peak motor power and a dual-motor version with 115 kW and 200 kW peak front and rear motors, respectively.
It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds for the single-motor version and 4.3 seconds for the dual-motor version, and from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds for the Brabus Performance version.
The model is available in three range versions with CLTC ranges of 520 km, 555 km and 580 km, and its battery pack is a ternary lithium battery from CALB and Sunwoda.
On June 18, Smart announced the opening of its flagship experience center in Shanghai, its fifth after Chengdu, Hangzhou, Guangzhou and Beijing.
Smart now has 17 stores in Shanghai, including one brand flagship center, four service centers and 12 retail showrooms. This year, Smart will add an additional eight stores in East China, it said.
To date, Smart has built 164 offline outlets in China, and the number is expected to exceed 200 by the end of this year, covering more than 60 first-tier, new first-tier and second-tier cities, it said.
Smart delivered 2,624 vehicles in China in May, down 40.23 percent from 4,390 units in April, according to data it released earlier this month.
Smart has delivered a cumulative total of 28,923 electric vehicles in China since last September, data monitored by CnEVPost show.
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BYD’s new brand Fang Cheng Bao releases more images of its 1st model
The number on the model's body has been changed from "2316" to "2318". It is unclear whether this implies that the model's launch will be delayed from June to August.
(Image credit: Fang Cheng Bao)
BYD's new sub-brand Fang Cheng Bao continues to warm up for its first model, after announcing the brand's official name earlier this month.
Fang Cheng Bao shared several new images of the model on Weibo on Wednesday, showing it testing in the snow.
The brand did not mention where the pictures were taken, although some car bloggers said it was in Yakeshi, Inner Mongolia, known as the snow and ice capital of China.
BYD officially launched the Fang Cheng Bao brand on June 9, the fifth in its brand matrix, following the Dynasty, Ocean, Denza and Yangwang series.
The sub-brand will meet growing consumer demand for personalization by offering a unique range of professional-grade new energy vehicle (NEV) models, BYD said at the time.
Fang Cheng Bao's model lineup includes crossovers and sports cars, with its initial model, a hardcore SUV codenamed SF, expected to launch this year, according to a BYD press release.
In March, CnEVPost obtained several photos of the SF model showing the number "2316" emblazoned on its body.
The number 2 in the string refers to dual motors, 3 refers to three locks, 1 refers to a new platform, and 6 refers to a June launch, CnEVPost learned at the time.
It's worth noting that in the pictures released by Fang Cheng Bao yesterday, the number on the car becomes "2318". It's unclear if this means the SF model's launch will be delayed from June to August.
In the comments section of its Weibo, Fang Cheng Bao replied to a user's question about when the model would be released, saying that the launch event is on its way.
Fang Cheng Bao's brand name literally translates to "Formula" and "Leopard," symbolizing the quest for a transformative rise and exploration of the digital realm, BYD said earlier this month.
BYD has not provided pricing information on the first Fang Cheng Bao model in its warm-ups over the past few months, though CnEVPost previously learned that the model will target a market priced between 400,000 yuan ($55,700) and 600,000 yuan.
Xiong Tianbo, formerly head of BYD auto sales research institute, will be the general manager of the brand's sales division, leading the brand's product planning, channel sales, and brand building, a company insider previously told CnEVPost.
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BYD officially names F brand Fang Cheng Bao, initial model to be launched this year
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EXCLUSIVE: SAIC-GM forecast Buick E4 to hit 5,000 sales monthly milestone within 3 months in China
GM bets on Buick's popularity in China, but will it be enough?
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BYD delivered the first batch of 100 Yuan Plus EV to customers in Mexico
BYD's dealership model allows the company rapid expansion to global markets.
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New patent hints BEV maker Avatr may launch models with combustion engines
The appeal of PHEVs or EREVs is clearly hard for Chinese EV companies to ignore, and the strong deliveries of the Li Auto further underscore this.
(Image credit: CnEVPost)
While adding an internal combustion engine to an electric vehicle (EV) model is seen as a step backward, the approach could lead to higher sales and thus make it attractive.
A new patent granted to Avatr Technology, an EV brand backed by CATL, Huawei and Changan Automobile, hints that it could potentially add models with internal combustion engines to its product array.
Avatr was granted a patent related to refueling ports on May 5, meaning that the battery electric vehicle (BEV) maker could potentially introduce models that can refuel in the future.
Avatr was originally founded as Changan NIO by Changan and NIO on July 10, 2018.
However, its product launches have not progressed well over the past several years, and with the introduction of new financing, NIO has essentially exited from the joint venture.
After several years of bumpy development, Avatr finally launched its first model, Avatr 11, on August 9, 2022, and its deliveries began at the end of December last year.
In addition to the Avatr 11, Avatr also has a limited-edition model, the Avatr 011, for which deliveries began in February of this year.
In May, Avatr sold 1,200 units, according to local consulting firm Land Roads.
Most of China's earliest EV startups targeted the BEV market in the beginning, but experience over the past few years has shown that plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs), which enjoy the same support policies as BEVs at the national level, are more popular.
In addition, Li Auto's (NASDAQ: LI) tremendous success in the extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) market is more evidence that PHEVs are more accepted.
Li Auto delivered a record 28,277 vehicles in May, the third consecutive month to surpass the 20,000-unit mark. It is aiming to deliver more than 30,000 units this month.
In an effort to reverse the sales slump, Leapmotor announced plans last year to release EREV models, all of its previous models were BEVs.
On February 1, Leapmotor unveiled its dual-power strategy and its first EREV model, an EREV variant of its flagship SUV, the C11. On March 1, the C11 EREV went on sale.
In May, Leapmotor delivered 12,058 vehicles, up 38.18 percent from 8,726 units in April and 10 times the 1,139 units in January.
The appeal of PHEVs or EREVs is clearly hard to ignore for Chinese EV makers.
He Xiaopeng, chairman and CEO of XPeng, said in a speech on June 15 that he could foresee a large number of hybrid models appearing in China in the next two years, especially inside family cars.
"Because everyone sees the success, they will follow. Because they are following, a large number of models will focus on the same place. It's a very interesting thing," he said.
He stressed, however, that car companies should have a long-term view. "I think in the automotive space, for everything, you have to think about the layout for ten to twenty years, it's not possible to achieve a big change in three years' time," he said.
Leapmotor starts bringing back combustion engines for its offerings to reverse plummeting sales
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Aion V Plus electric SUV launched with a range of 400 km, starting at 22,200 USD
This release is the 2024 Aion V Plus. This is a normal replacement for this model. In the last 12 months, 22,383 units of this car were sold.
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Aion V Plus electric SUV launched with a range of 400 km, starting at 22,200 USD
This release is the 2024 Aion V Plus. This is a normal replacement for this model. In the last 12 months, 22,383 units of this car were sold.
The post Aion V Plus electric SUV launched with a range of 400 km, starting at 22,200 USD appeared first on CarNewsChina.com.
BYD delivers 1st 100 Yuan Plus EVs in Mexico
Delivery of 100 Yuan Plus units was made by BYD and three Mexican dealers.
(Image credit: BYD)
BYD (OTCMKTS: BYDDY) has delivered the first 100 units of the Yuan Plus, its first global electric vehicle (EV) model, in Mexico.
The delivery of the 100 Yuan Plus was made by BYD and three dealers, Continental, Dalton and Liverpool, which have stores in Mexico City and Guadalajara, BYD said today.
Yuan Plus is the first A-class SUV to feature BYD's e-Platform 3.0, initially available in China on February 19, 2022.
The model is the also first BYD model to be built for the global market under the name Atto 3 in several other markets. In the Mexican market, BYD is following the same name it used in China for the model.
"We are delighted to announce the simultaneous delivery of 100 BYD YUAN PLUS vehicles in Mexico City and Guadalajara. This milestone underscores the growing interest and demand for sustainable and efficient electric vehicles among Mexican consumers," said Zou Zhou, country manager of BYD Mexico.
BYD did not make any additional introductions for the model, which has previously been available in several markets, including Australia, Mongolia, Nepal and Jordan.
The model sold in China measures 4,455 mm in length, 1,875 mm in width and 1,615 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,720 mm.
The BYD Yuan Plus is powered by a motor with a peak power of 150 kW and a peak torque of 310 Nm, with a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 7.3 seconds.
In Mexico, BYD announced in February that it has entered into a strategic auto finance partnership with Santander Bank, through which BYD will provide a full range of auto finance solutions to local dealers.
BYD and Santander Bank will also provide Mexican consumers with financial services for NEV purchases, including down payments as low as 10 percent, installments of up to 72 months and waiver of application fees for vehicle purchase loans, according to a previous press release.
BYD rolls out 4 models in Italy as it expands presence in European passenger car market
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XPeng plans to launch right-hand drive model in Hong Kong next year, report says
Right-hand drive is a large segment of the overall EV market, and XPeng is determined to build itself into a strong global EV company, the South China Morning Post quoted XPeng's president as saying.
(Image credit: CnEVPost)
XPeng (NYSE: XPEV) is reportedly setting its sights on Hong Kong, after entering the European market.
Guangzhou-based XPeng plans to launch a right-hand drive model in Hong Kong next year to compete with well-established rivals like Tesla, the South China Morning Post said in a report yesterday.
XPeng would offer a vehicle distinct from existing EVs on the streets of Hong Kong that will appeal to local customers with its advanced technology and unique design, reinforcing its go-global strategy, the report quoted Brian Gu, vice chairman and president of the EV maker, as saying.
The XPeng right-hand drive model will probably hit the Hong Kong market in late 2024, Gu said.
This marks the first step for one of China's major EV makers to enter the Hong Kong market with a right-hand drive model, the report said, adding that XPeng's domestic rivals -- NIO (NYSE: NIO) and Li Auto (NASDAQ: LI) -- have not yet announced plans to sell EVs in Hong Kong.
NIO, based in Shanghai, is currently focusing its international efforts on Europe, and Li Auto, based in Beijing, has not yet begun to venture into international markets.
Right-hand drive is a large segment of the overall EV market, and XPeng is determined to build itself into a strong global EV company, the South China Morning Post quoted Gu as saying.
"By the time we enter, we will probably face pretty significant competition," he said in a keynote session at the South China Morning Post's China Conference: Hong Kong 2023.
"But we do feel that our products will have a different appeal. We want to make sure that the technologies we develop in China can be made available in Hong Kong as well," he added.
On February 3, XPeng announced the launch of its two latest EVs in the European market, the G9 flagship SUV and the new P7 sports sedan, marking the restart of an overseas expansion that XPeng had suspended for much of last year.
He Xiaopeng, the company's chairman and CEO, said on Weibo on June 18 that the company would launch "version 2.0" of its overseas expansion efforts starting in the third quarter with the delivery of the P7 and G9.
After that, XPeng will accelerate its entry into more markets, he said.
Unlike most of the models exported, XPeng expects to bring high-quality, high-tech vehicles to overseas markets and expects to see more and more Chinese brand vehicles around the world, he said.
Earlier today, XPeng announced that it has selected the ACCESS Twine for Car (Twine4Car) in-car infotainment solution to provide apps and games, including prominent streaming services, for its new range of EVs.
This will start with the all-electric XPeng P7 sedan, with European deliveries set to begin this summer, the company said.
XPeng sales in China have been weak over the past year, due to product switches and a weakening in overall EV demand.
The company delivered 7,506 vehicles in May, down 25.87 percent year-on-year but up 6.03 percent from April.
In the January-May period, XPeng delivered 32,815 vehicles, down 38.88 percent year-on-year, according to data monitored by CnEVPost.
By the end of May, XPeng's cumulative deliveries since its inception were 291,525 vehicles.
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