A second Chinese B-segment model arrives in Europe: the Dongfeng NAMMI Box
- 说明
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.
Xiaomi launches its second model: the YU7 SUV
- 说明
Xiaomi launches its second model: the YU7 SUV
- Xiaomi has presented its second model, the YU7 SUV, which completes its offer, consisting so far of the SU7 sedan. This second model will double the sales of the very young brand, since Xiaomi plans to produce 150,000 units per year of this new model, which will be added to the 150,000 units planned each year of the SU7 sedan. Both models are assembled in factories belonging to the BAIC group and located in Beijing, Xiaomi does not have its own factory. The factory where the YU7 will be assembled began construction in August 2024 and is expected to be completed in July 2025, the date on which actual production of the YU7 SUV is expected to begin.
- The YU7 is a battery electric SUV (like the SU7 sedan) measuring 5.00 m long, 2.00 m wide and 1.60 m high, which places it more in the E segment. Its wheelbase is set at 3.00 m and its empty weight reaches 2,405 kilos.
- The YU7 is based on the same "Modena" platform as the SU7 sedan and has an electric motor of 295 hp (220 kW) in the 2-wheel drive version and two electric motors of 681 hp (508 kW) in the 4-wheel drive version. The NMC battery supplied by CATL has a capacity of 74 kWh, 94 kWh or 101 kWh depending on the version chosen by the customer. The carmaker announces a range of between 700 km and 800 km depending on the CTLC cycle and the battery.
- In terms of performance, the Xiaomi YU7 intends to position itself at the level of the fastest cars (253 km/h for the most powerful version). For the moment, there are no plans to export to Europe.
Hyundai and Kia are now entering the upper segment of BEVs
- 说明
Hyundai and Kia are now entering the upper segment of BEVs
- The Korean brands Hyundai and Kia, which have been united for 25 years in the Hyundai-Kia group, have each recently launched their largest battery electric models (E segment), which are also based on the same e-GMP platform (shared by the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, Kia EV6 and Genesis GV60). These are large SUVs that can each welcome seven people, the Hyundai Ioniq 9 is 5.06 m long and the Kia EV9 is 5.01 m long, these two models each weighing more than 2.5 tonnes in running order. Due to their dimensions, these two large SUVs are more intended for the American market, which is fond of this type of model, even if the BEV market is not yet well developed.
- Due to their electric motorisation, the Hyundai Ioniq 9 and Kia EV9 have practically no competitors on this market for the moment. The only model that could be opposed to them seems to be the large 5.04 m long Tesla Model X SUV with a very different but equally massive design.
- The Hyundai Ioniq 9 and Kia EV9 are equipped with the same electric motor delivering a choice of 204 hp (150 kW), 218 hp (160 kW), 313 hp (230 kW) or 434 hp (319 kW). The NMC battery offers a choice of 76 kWh, 100 kWh or 110 kWh, allowing a range of 500 km to 620 km according to the WLTP cycle and depending on the type of battery.
- Both models are assembled in South Korea and in the United States. Production of the Kia EV9 began in early 2024 and that of the Hyundai Ioniq 9 will begin in early 2025.
NIO unveils its B-segment electric sedan
- 说明
NIO unveils its B-segment electric sedan
- NIO is a very young Chinese carmaker as it was created in 2014, but already has a wide range of cars, all being fully electric. Indeed, NIO has two sedans (ET5, ET7) and five SUVs (EC6, ES6, EC7, ES7, ES8). These models are meeting some success in China, as NIO's production volume reached 195,000 units in the first 11 months of 2024, which augurs a volume of 210,000 units for the whole year, compared to 157,000 in 2023, 136,000 in 2022 and 93,000 in 2021.
- For its 10th anniversary, NIO presented a high segment model (the ET9 sedan) and an entry-level model (the Firefly sedan) that could be marketed in Europe.
- The case of the NIO Firefly is interesting as the Chinese B-segment cars are rather rare in China and Chinese carmakers do not offer this type of car in Europe. This vehicle was also developed in Europe (in Germany) for Europe, which is a first for a Chinese car. The rather classic design of the Firefly is indeed very different from the NIO models currently in the catalogue. It evokes a Honda E, a Fiat or an Opel.
- Its success in Europe will depend above all on its sale price. It could be between 25,000 and 30,000 euros, which would make it a direct rival of the Renault 5 E-Tech and the Fiat 500 e. It would also be less expensive than a Mini E or a Smart #1. The carmaker plans the arrival of the Firefly in Europe in the fall of 2025. Its mission would be to revive NIO sales there, which have stabilized at 2,500 units over the whole of 2024, compared to 2,371 in 2023 and 1,204 in 2022.
A Honda-Nissan-Mitsubishi group would become the world's third largest carmaker
- 说明
A Honda-Nissan-Mitsubishi group would become the world's third largest carmaker
- The Nissan group, which had approached the Honda group at the beginning of 2024 to collaborate in the electric vehicle, in order to compete more efficiently with the Chinese carmakers who are very advanced in this market, has decided to go further in this collaboration with a view to a merger of the two carmakers that would allow the creation of the third largest carmaker in the world (by integrating Mitsubishi, of which Nissan holds 24% of the capital) behind the Toyota and Volkswagen groups.
- The negotiations currently underway to achieve this merger follow only a few weeks after Nissan's announcement concerning the cutting of 9,000 positions in its global workforce and the reduction of 20% of its production capacity. This is the reason why this merger project between Honda and Nissan seems to be an act of rescue of Nissan by Honda, which the president of Honda denies. The fact remains that this merger project could put a definitive end to the partnership that still exists between Nissan and Renault.
- The two Japanese carmakers are not complementary in that their vehicle range is relatively similar and their main markets are the same (Japan, USA, China). It seems obvious that neither Honda nor Nissan will abandon one of these markets in favour of its partner. But we also observe that both carmakers are losing ground on the Chinese market, as on the European market. It is therefore time to join forces to negotiate the shift to electric, an area in which they are still almost absent and which is dominated today by the American Tesla (16th largest carmaker in the world) and the Chinese BYD (8th largest carmaker in the world), not to mention the other Chinese carmakers that are progressing rapidly. Honda and Nissan wish to conclude a definitive agreement by June 2025 with a view to creating a single holding company that would be joined by Mitsubishi.