A second Chinese B-segment model arrives in Europe: the Dongfeng NAMMI Box
- After the NIO Firefly, a second Chinese B-segment model is coming to Europe in 2025, the battery electric Dongfeng Box. The Box (named 01 in China), marketed in China under the NAMMI brand of the Dongfeng group, is a 4.03 m long, 1.81 m wide and 1.57 m high sedan, based on the S3 platform of Dongfeng's Quantum architecture. Its wheelbase is 2.66 m.
- The model is equipped with a 95 hp (70 kW) electric motor coupled to a 42.3 kWh LFP battery allowing a range of 310 km according to the CTLC cycle. Sales in Europe will begin in January 2025, although 130 pre-production units were sold there last December. With a very modern design, this model will try to establish itself on the European market, competing the Renault 5 E-Tech, Citroën e-C3, Peugeot e-208, Opel e-Corsa, Fiat Grande Panda-e and the NIO Firefly which is in the same category.
- With the launch of the Box assembled in China, it intends to catch up with its competitors. What will the price of the Box be? Currently marketed in Switzerland, it is priced at 23,000 euros (compared to 10,000 euros in China).
- Dongfeng (DFM) is one of the largest Chinese carmakers thanks to its JVs production with Kia, Honda, Nissan and incidentally Stellantis, but still little developed at the level of its own brands (Aeolus, Dongfeng, NAMMI, e-Π, MATC, Voyah) which did not exceed 340,000 sales in China over the first 11 months of 2024, compared to 425,000 for Seres, 520,000 for FAW, 665,000 for GAC, 725,000 sales for SAIC, 935,000 for Great Wall, 1,525,000 for Changan, 2,185,000 for Chery, 2,215,000 for Geely or even 3,730,000 for BYD. Dongfeng therefore remains a small carmaker if we ignore its JVs production.