Sub-RM 50k Chinese EVs are heading to Japan, priced at less than half of Nissan Sakura

The world’s best selling battery EV model, the Hong Guang Mini EV made by Chinese-American joint venture SAIC-GM-Wuling, is heading to Japan, reports Nikkei Asia.

According to the Japanese business publication, SAIC-GM-Wuling has engaged an agency to do market research for the product, with the goal of launching the model in Japan in the first half of 2023.

It also said that a real town estate company has expressed interest in buying one for each of its staff, as the company has calculated that it is cheaper to replace its fleet with Mini EV than to reimburse its staffs’ monthly travel claims on their company cars.

Nikkei Asia says the plan is to sell the two-door Mini EV at a starting price of 650,000 Yen (~RM 21.2k). For context, the four-door Nissan Sakura, the next closest EV model, sells for 2.399 million Yen (~RM 78k). Of course, it should also be pointed out that the Mini EV is also less than half the car the Sakura is, with a maximum speed of just 100 km/h.

The Sakura is powered by a 20 kWh battery and has a 180 km range (WLTP test cycle). Meanwhile, Mini EV is powered by a tiny 9.2 kWh battery. As it’s an older model that pre-dates the more stringent WLTP testing methodology, driving range for the base variant is quoted only in the older and more optimistic NEDC test cycle, which despite the most lax test methods, can only squeeze out 120 km.

Of course, Wuling also sells higher capacity 13.9 kWh (170 km, NEDC), 17.3 kWh (200 km, Chinese WLTP), and 26.5 kWh (300 km, Chinese WLTP) variants, but prices will increase considerably, by nearly 3x more.

The report also adds that SAIC-GM-Wuling is working on getting the car homologated under Japanese regulations, which shouldn’t be too difficult because Hongqi has already paved the way for Chinese cars in Japan.

Apart from Japan, SAIC-GM-Wuling has also started exporting the car to Europe, but it is rebadged under the Freze Nikrob brand. Homologation to comply with European UNECE regulations (which is also adopted in Malaysia) required considerable modifications to the Mini EV, which has bumped prices up by a lot.

Also read: Your car has an IC and a ‘birth cert’ – JPJ demonstrates how vehicle homologation (VTA) is done, with a BMW iX

Prices start at 13,000 Euros (~RM 62k), just slightly cheaper than a much more practical and bigger four-door Renault Twingo. On the upside, the cheapest Mini EV variant sold there starts with a bigger 13.9 kWh battery, and the European importer claims a 200 km range under WLTP test cycle.

Source: Sub-RM 50k Chinese EVs are heading to Japan, priced at less than half of Nissan Sakura