New Energy Vehicles in October: Xpeng Leads the Rising Trend
According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, the wholesale sales of new energy passenger vehicles reached 368,000 units in October, up 6.3% from September. This indicates that the traditional “golden September and silver October” period has turned into a “silver September and golden October” period. Among them, Xpeng and other emerging car companies, which have accurate product positioning and high-quality supporting services, have performed well both year-on-year and month-on-month. Especially, second-tier new forces such as NIO, WM Motor, and Leapmotor are gradually rising.
It is certain that with their accurate product positioning and high-quality supporting services, these new emerging car companies are rapidly gaining market trust and challenging traditional car companies’ market share. In the past, with a budget of RMB 200,000, there has been a wide range of choices in traditional car companies, including A00 to B-class. Now, with the same budget of RMB 200,000, what are the choices among emerging car companies?
Micro-Car: Leapmotor T03
Price after subsidy: RMB 59,800 to 76,800
Leapmotor T03, as the second model of Leapmotor, has gained a certain market share in the micro-car market since its launch in May last year, with sales of over 30,000 units. Although T03 seems like an ordinary micro pure electric vehicle, and some newly added colors only make it look younger, the L2 level driving assistance, face recognition start, panoramic sunroof, and 403km NEDC range highlights are enough for this model, which costs less than RMB 80,000, to stand out in the crowded market.
Looking at the exterior, the two sides of the front face of the T03 resemble a pair of round eyes, which occupies a large area and looks very cute. The overall shape is somewhat similar to that of Smart when viewed from a distance. The car is positioned as a 5-door, 4-seat micro pure electric vehicle, with a length, width, and height of 3620/1652/1577mm and a wheelbase of 2400mm.
In terms of interior design, the T03 series is equipped with a 10.1-inch floating LCD control screen with an intelligent vehicle system. After binding with the Leapmotor mobile App, the driver can remotely control and check the vehicle, including air conditioning, trip logs, battery management, driving records, etc.## Compact SUV: Leap T03
Configuration
In terms of configuration, the Leap T03 series has added a back door switch button. In addition, the high-end version is equipped with Leap Pilot2.0 intelligent driving system, which has 15 high-precision sensors and 10 intelligent driving assistance functions, including intelligent parking, cruise control, adaptive cruise control, low-speed follow, front collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, speed limit sign recognition, and fatigue driving warning.
Power
In terms of power, except for the Pro version, the T03 adopts a 55 kW permanent magnet synchronous motor with a maximum torque of 155 N·m. The electric total power of the Pro version is 80 kW, and the official 0-50 km/h acceleration time is 4 seconds. In terms of endurance, the T03 is equipped with a 38 kWh ternary lithium battery and a 41 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery, and the NEDC endurance mileage is 403 km, which also supports fast charging.
Compact SUV: NIO V Pro
After-subsidy price: 76,900-80,900 RMB
The NIO V Pro was officially launched on November 3. As a derivative model of the NIO V, the new car has been upgraded in terms of power, safety, intelligence, and service, further enhancing the overall competitiveness of the vehicle, but there are not many changes in the overall appearance and interior.
Appearance
In terms of appearance, the new car basically maintains the same appearance as the NIO V, and the overall design style is relatively simple. However, there are a total of 12 ultrasonic radar sensors on the front and rear bumpers, including 8 parking distance measuring radars and 4 radars close to the wheel eyebrows to support automatic parking. In addition to automatic parking, the NIO V Pro will also be equipped with a mobile app one-click automatic parking function, which will be realized through OTA upgrade in the future.
Interior
The new car’s interior design has not undergone too many changes, but the large vertical screen of the central control is eye-catching. It has been upgraded from 13 inches on the NIO V to 14.6 inches, with a resolution of 1920×1080, and the color gamut display has also been improved by 10%.
Configuration
In terms of configuration, the new car’s central control screen supports more third-party entertainment apps, online navigation, AI voice interaction, V2H smart home interconnection, and lifetime free vehicle networking flow. The high-end models are equipped with front wireless charging function and also have full-speed adaptive cruise, lane keeping assist, lane departure warning, and front collision warning functions, achieving L2 level of driving assistance.## Compact Car: XPeng P5
Subsidized Price: CNY 1.579-2.239 Million
Regarding XPeng P5, most people would think of it as the “world’s first mass-produced smart car equipped with a LiDAR”. Indeed, XPeng P5’s launch broke the threshold of smart cars and further promoted the mass production of cars equipped with LiDAR.
XPeng P5’s front end presents a simple design style that looks very textured, especially when matched with black decoration, giving a clean and concise visual impression.
The car’s side appears very simple, with refreshing and concise lines that catch the eye. P5’s length, width, height, and wheelbase are 4808/1840/1520 mm and 2768 mm, respectively. The rear of the car echoes the front, giving a very minimalist feel, and the taillights have a slender design style that adds to its recognition.
Compared to P7, the interior of P5 has changed a lot, but it still follows a simple design while using a wrap-around design that gives passengers a sense of safety. The overall interior quality is very good, and the central 15.6-inch control screen looks like it was retrofitted.
Regarding the driving assistance configuration, the two high-end models of XPeng P5, the 550P and 600P, are equipped with two LiDARs and can be equipped with XPILOT3.5 driving assistance system, which will be able to realize the city NGP function in the future. The two mid-range models, the 460E and 550E, can be equipped with XPILOT3.0 driving assistance system, while the lowest models, the 460G and 550G, cannot be equipped with the above functions, only with XPILOT2.5 driving assistance system.
In terms of power, the new car will be equipped with a permanent magnet synchronous motor with a maximum power of 70 kW, a maximum torque of 150 N·m, and an acceleration time of 0-50 km/h of 3.9 seconds. The maximum speed can reach 120 km/h. Additionally, the new car will continue to be equipped with a 38.54 kWh ternary lithium battery, with a NEDC range of 401 km.In terms of power, the XPeng P5 is equipped with a motor with a maximum power of 155 kW and a peak torque of 310 N·m. The three versions of the car model are equipped with batteries with capacities of 55.9 kWh, 66.2 kWh, and 71.4 kWh, respectively, with NEDC range of 460 km, 550 km, and 600 km.
Compact SUV: WM EX5
Price after subsidy: 149,800-159,800 yuan
As the first model of WM, the WM EX5 has gone through a bumpy road for three years, and the current model on sale is the mid-term facelift version, EX5-Z. Compared with the old model, although the EX5-Z has slightly decreased in power and endurance, it still has a certain competitiveness in the market due to the reduced price and the accumulation of technology configuration.
The currently available 2022 WM EX5-Z is a facelift model, with no significant difference in appearance and interior design, adopting a closed front face design and irregular LED light strips on the lower front bumper area. The dimensions of the vehicle are 4585/1835/1672 mm in length, width, and height, respectively, with a wheelbase of 2703 mm.
In terms of interior design, a large number of physical buttons in the vehicle have been reduced, and most functions are concentrated on the central control screen. The high-end Lead Pioneer Edition is equipped with a screen size of 15.6 inches, while the NEX Exploration Edition and PRO Versatile Edition have a screen size of 12.8 inches, and all models come with a face recognition system as standard.
In addition, high-end models are equipped with Huawei’s intelligent assistant, Living Pilot intelligent driving assistance system, which can realize lane deviation correction assistance, automatic emergency braking, and side and rear incoming vehicle reminder functions. These details are more about form than substance.
In terms of power, the 2022 WM EX5-Z is equipped with a permanent magnet synchronous motor with a maximum power of 160 kW and a maximum torque of 225 N·m, with a NEDC range of 403 km.
Compact SUV: XPeng G3i
Price after subsidy: 146,800-199,800 yuan# Small changes, big impact: The Upgrade of XPeng G3 to G3i
The XPeng G3 car model can be considered a veteran product from the new force of car manufacturers. When it was launched at the end of 2018, it attracted many young people’s attention with labels such as technology and intelligence, and also laid the foundation for XPeng’s brand genes. In July this year, this product ushered in the traditional “mid-term facelift” – XPeng G3i.
In terms of appearance, the biggest change of the G3i compared to the old model is the front face design, which adopts the same family design as XPeng P7. This is also the simplest way to distinguish between the old and new models. At the same time, in addition to the new appearance design, new color schemes have also been added to bring a fresh feeling.
The overall shape changes of the car body side are not significant, only minor adjustments have been made to the body size. The protruding camera on the roof has been removed, which has improved the aesthetics of the car. In addition, the door handles of XPeng G3i have also been changed to hidden. The tail part basically adopts the design of the old model without new changes.
In terms of interior, the changes in the center control are not obvious, mainly focusing on bringing an upgraded configuration. The size of the full LCD instrument panel is 12.3 inches, and the central control screen is 15.6 inches, which is no different from the old model. However, the new car is equipped with XPeng’s latest Xmart OS2.0 system, which has the same full-scene voice function as XPeng P7. This system allows voice adjustment of air conditioning, windows, and even driving modes, with features such as continuous dialogue and “see what you say”.
In terms of power, XPeng G3i continues to use a 145 kW maximum power and a peak torque of 300 Nm permanent magnet synchronous motor across the entire series. The official 0-100 km/h acceleration time is 8.6 seconds. In terms of endurance, XPeng G3i is equipped with a 55 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery pack and 57/66 kWh ternary lithium battery packs, with NEDC endurance mileage of 460 and 520 km respectively.
Mid-Size SUV: WM W6
Subsidized price: 1.698-2.098 million yuan
Wey W6, which ushers in the halo of “autonomous driving”, has been a hot topic since its launch in April this year. It first announced its cross-border cooperation with Baidu, and then revealed its identity as the “first domestic intelligent electric production vehicle that can achieve autonomous driving at the 200,000 yuan level”. Before the appearance of M7, W6 was not only the latest intelligent achievement of the Wey brand, but also a masterpiece that broke the original product system.
In terms of appearance, the M-type integrated light group with a family-style design language runs through, and the headlights and the through-type tail lights also form a correspondence in design form.
As a medium-sized SUV, Wey W6 has a full vehicle size of 4620/1847/1730 mm and a wheelbase of 2715 mm. The rounded body shape combined with concealed door handles achieves a super-low wind resistance coefficient of 0.3 cd. In addition, Wey W6 will offer 8 body colors including Fearless Green, Exploration Blue, Racing Orange, Dawn Green, Interstellar Black, Electromagnetic Red, Inspired White, and Boundless Grey to choose from.
In terms of interior, the 12.3-inch suspended central control screen and another 12.3-inch full LCD digital instrument panel together form a dual-linked large screen, plus the 8-inch i-Touch car control screen at the bottom, highlighting a strong sense of technology. Thanks to the new Living Mate vehicle interaction system and the WIMI voice assistant that can achieve voice control of over 120 commonly used functions.
The biggest highlight of Wey W6 is the AVP autonomous parking system, which is divided into two autonomous driving parking scenarios, autonomous learning parking (HAVP) and high-precision map parking (PAVP). Among them, HAVP allows car owners to achieve unmanned parking in/out of parking spaces in underground garages through mobile phone operation, while PAVP relies on high-precision maps and cloud millions of-level computing power to automatically find parking spaces in public places, including complex searching for parking space routes such as automatic up and down parking buildings.In terms of driving assistance, the WM W6 has upgraded its L2 level intelligent assistance system, featuring the new Living Pilot 3.0 intelligent driving assistance system, which provides 20 driving assistance configurations. The new features include lever lane changing, traffic congestion guidance, automatic navigation assistance driving, forward and rear crossing alerts, and door collision warning.
In terms of power, the WM W6 series is equipped with a permanent magnet synchronous motor with a maximum power of 160 kW and a peak torque of 225 Nm. As for the driving range, the WM W6 offers two driving ranges of 520 km and 650 km respectively.
Mid-size SUV: Lynk & Co C11
Post-subsidy price: 159,800-199,800 yuan
In late September, the Lynk & Co C11 was officially launched in Hangzhou, with the same price as the pre-sale period, but added front double-layer quiet glass, co-pilot mobile phone screen projection, brown interior selection and other configurations throughout the series. The optional package also adds features such as heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats, and privacy glass for rear passengers, providing luxury car treatment for less than 200,000 yuan.
In terms of exterior design, the Lynk & Co C11 adopts a “digital curved surface” design style, with a closed grille matching arc-shaped headlights and a lower concave fog lamp area to create a simple and clear front-end shape. The waistline contour on the side of the car is not obvious, highlighting the full and solid style of the car. In terms of body size, the Lynk & Co C11 has a length, width, and height of 4750/1905/1675 mm and a wheelbase of 2930 mm.
In terms of interior design, the Lynk & Co C11 has a three-screen style on the instrument panel, central control panel, and front passenger side, with screen sizes of 10.25 inches, 12.8 inches, and 10.25 inches respectively, and the central control screen slightly protruding. In terms of hardware configuration, the C11 is equipped with 28 sensing hardware as standard and comes with the Leap Pilot3.0 intelligent driving system and two Ingenic 01 intelligent driving chips. The vehicle will open up high-speed navigation and other assisted driving capabilities in the second quarter of next year through subsequent OTA updates.In terms of power, the ZERO C11 offers three versions of models. The luxury and premium versions adopt a rear-wheel drive layout, with a maximum motor power of 200 kW and a peak torque of 360 N·m. The performance version adopts a four-wheel drive layout and is equipped with two motors with a maximum power of 200 kW and a maximum torque of 360 N·m. As for the cruising range, the luxury version is equipped with a 76.6 kWh battery pack and has an NEDC cruising range of 510 km; the premium and performance versions are equipped with a 90 kWh battery pack, with a cruising range of 610 km and 550 km, respectively, due to different power requirements.
Final Words
From the above series of models, it can be seen that the controversial new forces have challenged the traditional market step by step, from micro cars that cost tens of thousands of yuan to crossover vehicles that cost over a hundred thousand yuan. It can also be seen that more and more media are comparing new energy vehicles with comparable traditional fuel vehicles. Although each has its own strengths and weaknesses, they are at least able to compete on the same level.
At the same time, during the annual “Double Eleven” online shopping carnival, most of the above models can be selected and ordered on the official mini-program, and even delivered to your doorstep like express delivery. You don’t even need to calculate every discount coupon like Sherlock Holmes.
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.