Tagged: eV

Neta launches new variants of Neta S flagship sedan to bring price lower

Neta has launched two new variants of the Neta S with a shorter range and weaker performance, bringing the starting price of its flagship sedan down to under RMB 200,000.

Neta launches new variants of Neta S flagship sedan to bring price lower-CnEVPost

(Neta S on 2023 Shanghai auto show. Image credit: CnEVPost)

Price cuts are tricky in China's electric vehicle (EV) market, as they can spark protests from existing owners. So, launching lower-priced versions based on existing models has become one option for EV makers that need to boost sales.

Neta Auto, the EV brand owned by Hozon Auto, today launched two new variants of its flagship sedan, the Neta S, bringing the model's starting price down by 13,000 yuan ($1,880) to under RMB 200,000.

The new variants -- the all-electric Neta S 520 Lite and Neta S 520 -- start at RMB 189,800 and RMB 199,800 respectively.

As a comparison, the least expensive version of the Neta S previously on sale was a model with extended-range technology, starting at RMB 202,800.

The lowest-priced version of the pure electric Neta S was previously available in a version with a CLTC range of 715 km, starting at RMB 248,800.

The Neta S 520 Lite and Neta S 520 both have a CLTC range of 520 km and use a lithium iron phosphate battery pack with a capacity of 64.46 kWh.

These lower-priced Neta S BEVs can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.4 seconds.

For comparison, the least expensive Neta S BEV with a range of 715 km uses a ternary lithium battery pack with a capacity of 84.50 kWh and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds.

The Neta S 520 Lite and Neta S 520 are also weaker than the previously available Neta S BEV in some other specifications, such as the absence of a hands-free power tailgate.

Neta has been considered a budget EV maker since its inception, as its vehicles are priced primarily at the lower end of the market, with the Neta V and Neta U priced at around RMB 100,000 to RMB 150,000.

The Neta S is its first effort at the premium end of the market, officially launched in China on July 31, 2022.

Neta delivered 11,080 vehicles in April, up 25.72 percent from 8,813 in the same month last year and up 9.84 percent from 10,087 in March, according to data released earlier this month.

Neta S delivered 2,237 units in April, up 1.41 percent from 2,206 units in March.

In January-April, Neta delivered 37,256 vehicles, down 4.39 percent from 38,965 in the same period last year.

The Neta S delivered 8,008 units in January-April, for a cumulative total of 10,213 units since deliveries began last October, data monitored by CnEVPost show.

($1 = RMB 6.9240)

Neta delivers 11,080 vehicles in Apr, up 9.8% from Mar

Neta launches new variants of Neta S flagship sedan to bring price lower-CnEVPost

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NIO ES7 wait time gets slightly longer

The ES7's current expected delivery date is about 4 weeks, up from about 3 weeks previously.

NIO ES7 wait time gets slightly longer-CnEVPost

(Image credit: CnEVPost)

NIO's (NYSE: NIO) ES7 SUV has seen slightly longer wait times in China. Late last month some owners of the model voiced their displeasure as the new ES6 is coming.

The ES7's current expected delivery date is about 4 weeks, up from about 3 weeks previously, information from the NIO App monitored by CnEVPost shows.

The last change in the information was on April 25, when the model's wait time was reduced from 3 to 5 weeks to about 3 weeks.

NIO ES7 wait time gets slightly longer-CnEVPost

(Screenshot on May 9.)

The NIO ES7, launched on June 15, 2022, is NIO's second model based on the NT 2.0 platform and is the first SUV on this second-generation platform.

NIO began deliveries of the ES7 on August 28, 2022, with a cumulative total of 15,123 units delivered by the end of January this year, according to data monitored by CnEVPost.

Late last month, many ES7 owners formed WeChat groups in order to jointly protest to NIO arguing that the automaker betrayed them because the new ES6 will not only have lower prices, but also have a competitive edge with their vehicles.

NIO officially launched the 2023 ET7 sedan and gave the improved ES6 its debut on the first day of the Shanghai auto show on April 18.

The new ES6 is already available for pre-order, but the official launch will be in late May. William Li, NIO founder, chairman and CEO, said previously the model will move quickly from official launch to delivery.

NIO's website and app currently showcase seven models -- the new ES8, ES7, new ES6, EC7, EC6, ET7, and ET5.

In the vehicle configurator of NIO App, there are 5 models available -- new ES8, ES7, EC7, ET7, ET5, and the configurator of new ES6 and EC6 based on NT 1.0 platform is not available.

Wait time information for all other NIO models remains unchanged, with the new ES8 still showing deliveries expected to begin in June, the EC7 wait time around 5 weeks, the ET7 around 3 weeks, and the ET5 around 2 weeks.

Below is CnEVData's redesigned tracking table for NIO model wait times, you can subscribe to see the details.

NIO model wait time update: ES7 gets longer

The post NIO ES7 wait time gets slightly longer appeared first on CnEVPost.

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NIO gears up for tough stance on false rumors, sets up legal desk social media accounts

NIO has officially opened accounts dedicated to its legal department on Weibo and the short video platform Douyin, following similar actions by and .

(Screenshot of NIO legal department's account page on Douyin.)

NIO is ready to step up its fight against false rumors, as such information circulates widely ahead of the official launch of the highly anticipated new SUV ES6.

The Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker today officially opened accounts dedicated to its legal department on Weibo as well as on the short video platform Douyin, CnEVPost has learned.

As of press time, NIO's legal department account has 128 followers on Weibo and 1,756 followers on Douyin, although no content has been posted yet.

(Screenshot of NIO legal department's account page on Weibo.)

NIO's move comes at a time when false information about it has recently increased significantly ahead of the new ES6 SUV's launch. The company unveiled the new ES6 on the first day of the Shanghai auto show on April 18, and its official launch will be later this month.

NIO is currently switching its models from the older NT 1.0 platform to the newer NT 2.0 platform, and the resulting customer wait-and-see may be one of the key reasons for the low sales over the past few months.

NIO delivered 6,658 vehicles in April, up 31.22 percent from 5,074 in the same month last year, but down 35.85 percent from 10,378 in March, the second consecutive monthly decline.

The weak performance has been compared by some on Chinese social media to the company's most difficult times more than three years ago, and there are even rumors that German auto giant Volkswagen may buy NIO.

NIO has previously had a high tolerance for false rumors and usually doesn't take a hard line.

The company's latest move is similar to what Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) and Li Auto (NASDAQ: LI) have done in the social media space.

Tesla's legal department in China opened an account on Weibo in June 2021 and has been playing a big role in combating false information involving the company.

Li Auto opened a Weibo account for its legal department in September 2022 and has made several clarifications about false information.

On May 5, a Weibo blogger claimed he had worked with Li Auto in April for a deal worth RMB 300,000 ($43,370). Li Auto's founder, chairman and CEO Li Xiang subsequently denied it on Weibo and asked the car company's legal department to intervene.

The creation of the legal department's social media accounts is the latest move by NIO in its fight against what it sees as violations of its reputation.

Late last month, the EV maker sued a vlogger with 6.5 million followers on Douyin, accusing him of spreading false information and violating its reputation.

NIO demanded that the blogger publicly apologize on Douyin and pay RMB 2 million in damages.

($1 = RMB 6.9180)

NIO sues vlogger for $290,000 for spreading false information

The post NIO gears up for tough stance on false rumors, sets up legal desk social media accounts appeared first on CnEVPost.

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Zeekr begins allowing lock-in of Zeekr X orders

The Zeekr X was launched on April 12, with deliveries expected to begin in June.

Zeekr begins allowing lock-in of Zeekr X orders-CnEVPost

(Image credit: CnEVPost)

Geely Holding Group's premium electric vehicle brand Zeekr has begun allowing consumers to lock in orders for the Zeekr X, following the official launch of the compact SUV a month ago.

Zeekr today began allowing orders for the Zeekr X to be locked, and consumers will not be able to change their order information after doing so, according to a post on the company's mobile app today.

For consumers who have previously reserved the model, their orders will be automatically locked if they do not have any action by 24:00 on May 31, according to the article.

Test drives of the Zeekr X will be available in Zeekr stores starting May 9, Zeekr said, adding that deliveries of the model are expected to begin in June.

Zeekr officially launched the Zeekr X, its third model, at a launch event in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu on April 12. It comes in three versions, one starting at RMB 189,800 ($27,450) and the other two at RMB 209,800.

With a length, width and height of 4,450mm, 1,836mm and 1,572mm respectively, and a wheelbase of 2,750mm, the Zeekr X is a typical compact SUV.

Zeekr hopes to use the SUV to disrupt the compact luxury car market, which is dominated by Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi, and its CEO Andy An said at the launch event that the market currently has only luxury brands and no real luxury products.

With a combined maximum power of 315 kW and maximum torque of 543 Nm, the dual-motor version of the Zeekr X can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds.

Even the single-motor version of the Zeekr X can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.8 seconds.

Zeekr is aiming to double its sales to about 140,000 units this year. It delivered 8,101 units in April and 23,335 units in the January-April period, up 124.85 percent from 10,378 units in the same period last year.

Zeekr X's delivery target for this year is 40,000 units, An said in response to a CnEVPost question during a media interview on the night of the model's launch.

On April 18, Zeekr unveiled its European strategy, and the Zeekr 001 shooting brake and Zeekr X will be its first models available in Europe.

($1 = RMB 6.9148)

Zeekr launches Zeekr X SUV to gain further share from market dominated by German luxury automakers

The post Zeekr begins allowing lock-in of Zeekr X orders appeared first on CnEVPost.

For more articles, please visit CnEVPost.

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