Electric SUV – Everyone’s Blue Ocean
Let’s take a look at the hot SUV camp first.
Pure electric SUVs are the spearhead of car manufacturers’ conquest of the electric vehicle market. Among the new electric vehicles that will be launched this year, pure electric SUVs account for the majority. Are there any models worth buying?
From the official published range of various brands or the range released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, almost all have reached the 300-kilometer level, which is closely related to the government’s subsidy requirements for range.
If you want to choose a small SUV, perhaps the BYD Yuan EV is worth a try. The entry-level model, at an entry-level price point, surpasses the range of mid-size SUVs and can be considered cost-effective. As for the BMW i3s, only those who have a strong affection for this model will probably buy it, as it’s an entry-level model with the price tag of a middle-imported car. The BMW i3s is likely to inherit the position of the BMW i3 as an unpopular model in China.
The most competitive is the compact SUV. This is currently the most popular car segment in China. Starting this year, not only are fuel vehicles continuing to compete in this segment, but electric vehicles are also joining the battle group. Although there are many new cars, there is a lack of highlights. However, from the perspective of manufacturers, based on Great Wall Motor’s extraordinary success in the SUV industry, the first electric vehicle from Great Wall, ORA iQ5, may be worth looking forward to.
BYD Tang is an old player in the plug-in hybrid SUV market among Chinese domestic brands. It was the sales champion of domestic electric vehicle brands in 2016, but its sales plummeted significantly last year due to the increasing competition from other models. It’s still hard to say whether the new generation of Tang has a complete upgrading.
NIO, WM Motor and Human Horizons are new electric vehicle brands. Compared with mature automakers, they need time to test their vehicle performance and after-sales service. As for BAIC BJEV, if there are price advantages, it’s estimated that it can compete with these similarly mediocre models.
However, NIO is worth mentioning more. Since its debut in December last year, NIO ES8 has been frequently in the news both positively and negatively. NIO has also launched innovative experiences in its service mode consistently, from the initial battery swap service to the recent power worry-free service. With such attention before the vehicle delivery, NIO has made unremitting efforts and the real challenge is still ahead.
Two heavyweight imported car models must be mentioned in this category – Jaguar I-PACE and Audi E-Tron Quattro. Jaguar I-PACE has received high praise from professional test drivers from foreign media. The official website of Jaguar in China has already introduced this model in detail, and it is believed that it will come to China for sale shortly after it is launched in the second half of this year, with a range of up to 500 kilometers (NEDC). The powertrain includes two electric motors and a 90 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, with a total power output of 294 kW. It can complete 80% charge in 90 minutes at a direct current charging station with a power of 50 kW. If you want to try a pure electric SUV from a traditional luxury brand, I-PACE is worth the wait.
Audi E-Tron Quattro has been slow to progress since the release of the concept car, but it has finally reached the expected year of release. If we have to say Tesla Model X is the rival of Jaguar and Audi’s electric SUV, it is better to say that Jaguar I-PACE and Audi E-Tron Quattro are really competing with each other. Both are competing secretly on who’s electric SUV will be the first to launch. Compared with Jaguar I-PACE, the detailed information of Audi E-Tron Quattro is not clear yet, only based on the Audi Q family for reference. In the field of gasoline cars in China, Audi Q series occupies a considerable position. Based on this good foundation, I believe that many Q series fans will be interested in trying Audi’s first electric SUV.
Finally, the last one is the electric touring car Ei5 from Roewe.## An Overview of Roewe’s Electric Vehicle Strategy
Roewe, as a domestic brand, has established a good reputation in the field of new energy vehicles. This time, they took a different approach and bypassed the SUV, which is currently the focus of the market, by promoting their first pure electric travel car, the Ei5. However, despite the Ei5’s unique selling point, as a compact car, it is not as large in appearance as other travel vehicles, and the concept of travel vehicles is relatively unpopular in China. So, it is difficult to say how well this approach will be received. Of course, if the price is attractive enough, relying on Roewe’s and SAIC’s reputation, this product could still have a decent market performance.
Are You Ready to Buy an Electric Sedan, a Popular Type Overseas?
Below are the electric sedans that will be available in the Chinese market this year.
The electric sedan market is not as popular as the SUV market.
It must be said that several imported electric sedans are quite heavyweight, but it is unknown if they will be accepted by the Chinese market.
Nissan New Leaf, the first best-selling electric car, entered China through the Qichen brand, but was a complete failure. This time, the new version has been introduced, and it remains uncertain whether Chinese car owners will be satisfied.
As a compact sedan, the high prices of imported cars make it difficult for domestic audiences to afford them. Moreover, the popularity of Nissan New Leaf in China is very limited. However, as the best-selling electric car, its performance should be reliable and the new model’s mileage has greatly improved. Though it remains to be seen whether the price of over 240,000 RMB will deter potential buyers.
In contrast to the Nissan New Leaf, the popularity of the Volkswagen Golf in China is well-known to everyone. At the time of the launch of the Golf 7, dealers earned a lot of money by raising prices.
Volkswagen has created the e-Golf, an electric version of the Golf, on the MQB platform, and it has sold well in Europe and America. Finally, it has been introduced to China, and it remains to be seen whether Golf fans will have a special attachment to it. The 255 kilometer range is a disadvantage when compared with other cars in the same class, and the expected price of 268,000 RMB is another shortcoming.
If you are willing to wait and have a generous budget, Tesla Model 3 is undoubtedly your choice for this year among medium-sized cars. With a truly long battery life, revolutionary design, constantly optimized software, and the brand value of Tesla in the electric car industry, the praise that Model 3 has received so far is enough reason for you to choose it.
New Emgrand EV450 is marked as “high cost performance” in terms of car size, battery life, and pre-sale price. Ranging from 140,000 to 170,000 yuan, it is a very economical choice for a medium-sized car with a range of over 300 kilometers.
From the above inventory, we can see an interesting division of camps. Traditional domestic brands and new car makers mainly focus on the SUV market, particularly in the compact SUV field, to seize the initiative in the electric car market, while joint venture brands are taking a leisurely approach with plug-in hybrids, like watching from a distance.
The new models introduced to China, whether they are SUVs or sedans, are among the best in the world of electric cars. No matter which camp they belong to, let’s see how they strive to make you feel worthy of your purchase this year. Have you found the car you want to order in our list?
* Jaguar I-PACE: I am shorter than Model 3, but with a longer wheelbase than Model X.
This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.