MG

MG evokes fond memories for many. Today, MG is owned by the Chinese conglomerate SAIC, which thus also manages the legacy of the legendary car brand.

MG4 64 kWh will do just fine

MG MG4 Electric

There are not very many models to choose from if you want an electric car in the Golf class with a large battery pack and a range of over 400 km. The MG4 is a viable option for small households.

 

An MG deserves a good look

After the MG car brand was acquired by the Chinese SAIC, they have been releasing new car models on the Chinese domestic market. Now they have come to Europe. I associate MG with the former gorgeous, sporty cars. They may not have been the best in the world, but they were beautiful. If you are going to continue MG in new models, one of the requirements should be that they should be beautiful. I know that it depends on the eyes that see, but I think most people would characterize the MG MG4 as a beautiful car. I like that the front is designed like an electric car - without looking like a converted petrol car. I like the roof line that extends all the way back to the tailgate. From the side, the lines are completely in line with today's trend. It makes the car seem low and sleek, although the MG4 is a couple of cm higher than today's Golf. The rear end with the roof spoiler and the taillights shaped like a rear spoiler, is a masterpiece from SAIC's design studio in London. They have also designed the sporty - and very beautiful - MG Cyberster.
 

mg4
MG MG4 Luxury

B-class or C-class?

I imagined that the MG4 belongs to the B class, i.e. the same car class as the Opel Corsa and Peugeot 208. In terms of size, it is rather in the Golf class. Despite the long wheelbase, the interior length of the cabin seems shorter than expected. If I were sitting behind a driver of the same height as me - 1,88 meters - I would ask if he could move the seat forward a little. The reason may be the design. It's hard to get your feet under the front seat. The luggage compartment holds 350 liters under the hat shelf and is easy to use.

Not in the premium tier

Those of us who drive cars in several price ranges find it easy to compare with the very best cars, regardless of what they cost. "Our" MG4 is a full-fledged electric car for NOK 325. The competitors are Nissan Leaf og Volkswagen ID.3. What MG delivers is fine in this company. I noted good seats in a durable fabric surrounded by artificial leather. The driver's seat could be fine-tuned in all directions, but my wife in the passenger seat found no height adjustment. The problem is that the seat cushion will be too low for most people – at least for a woman of 1,66 metres.
 

mg4
Atmosphere from the cockpit. Notice the board at the bottom right where you can charge your mobile phone.

 
Another concern is how the air conditioning handles the Norwegian winter. Around 0 degrees, I noticed that there was fog gathering at the triangle windows at the front, which disappeared only when I switched on the defroster. The automatic air conditioning was also unable to create an even temperature of 21 degrees.
 
The infotainment system is easy to understand, but it takes a long time for the screens to change, which is unfortunate if you operate the screen at speed.

On the road

The MG4 sits well on the road. On road driving, it follows well through the bends without being distracted by bumps and unevenness. The chassis feels firm without being uncomfortable. The steering is precise. You feel that you are driving a bigger car, quite simply. Driving mode "Normal" works fine, but I prefer "Sport" mode which gives more resistance in the steering. When the car's "lane keeping" function intervenes to correct the steering, it seems less disruptive than when the steering is feather-light. I still chose to drive most of the time in "Normal" to get the most favorable consumption possible.

Regenerative braking

Recently referred motor.no from We car owners big winter test where the MG4 came out poorly. According to the Swedish magazine, regenerative braking had caused the rear wheels to lock and create a skid on smooth roads.
 

mg4
The rear is a work of art with a roof spoiler and rear lights shaped like a rear spoiler

 
The regenerative brake can be set to several levels. I chose strong regeneration where you can drive with one pedal except for the final braking before coming to a complete stop. We drove alternately on dry and wet winter roads with occasional slush and snow in the road, as well as some less trafficked places with soft ice cover. On a few occasions I tried to get the rear end to drop by letting off the gas suddenly with no success. The most powerful regenerative brake is not particularly powerful either – more like average in other cars, I would say.

consumption

It is not optimal to pick up a car that has been left outside all night in 0 degrees, and drive off straight away. The consumption in the first kilometers was also a whopping 29,1 kWh/100km. The average for the day ended at 17,6. Better than expected. Stated consumption is 16,6 kWh/100km.
 
Tired range is 435 km measured according to WLTP combined driving. My own experience with several electric cars is that the real range is closer to 4/5 of this, i.e. 348 km. Our trip of 112 km took 32% of the net battery capacity - roughly a theoretical range of 350 km under the prevailing conditions.

 

Comfortable chairs. The passenger seat lacks height adjustment

 
The back seat

 
MG4 Trunk.

 
Stop by IKEA to replace some furniture.

MG4 will do

The two biggest advantages of the MG4 in Luxus equipment level are price and battery size. The low price is evident by the fact that some things are not in the premium category. MG4 is well suited for a young couple, or for people like us – husband and wife with children who have moved away. The size is suitable when mother does not want a car that is too big, and father does not want a mini car. A minus for many is that you cannot get a roof rack and loading hatch. This means that you have to fold down a back seat to bring ski equipment. Comfortable driver's seat, good driving characteristics, low noise level and good range make the car also suitable for long journeys. I see no problem driving this car down Europe to our French house. Should any problems arise, it is good to know that MG has brand dealers all along the way.
 
🙂 Good price and large battery pack
🙁 Neither roof rack nor ski hatch available.

 

Facts MG MG4 64KWH

Weights and Measures
External dimensions - L, W, H: 429 x 184 x 152 cm
Wheelbase: 271 cm
Net weight: 1675 kg (without driver)
Payload: 373 kg
Number of seats: 5
Max trailer weight w/brakes: 500 kg
– without brakes: 500 kg
Roof load: not possible

Drivetrain
Engine: Electric located at the rear
Power: 204 HP
Torque: 250 Nm > 0 revolutions
Gearbox: 1-speed automatic
Rear wheel drive

Performances
Top speed: 160 km/h
0-100: 7,9 seconds

Battery pack
Manufacturer: CATL
Type: Li-ion
Location: Under the door between the axles
Temperature control: Liquid-based
Total capacity: 64 kWh
Total capacity for use: 61,7 kWh
Heat exchanger

Range and consumption
WLTP: 435 km (combined)
Estimated range of our driving: 350 km (cold start, 0 degrees)
Stated consumption WLTP: 16,6 kWh/100km
Measured consumption: 17,6 kWh/100km

Cargo
Contacts: Type2 and CSS
On-board charger: 11kW
Charging time CSS, 140kW, 10-80%: 26 min.

Luggage compartment
As a five-seater: 350 litres
As a two-seater: 1165 litres

Tires
Dimension: 215/50R17 T XL
Type: Winter tires without studs
Brand: Yokohama IceGuard

Prices
Price: NOK 325 (Luxury)
Lacquer supplement: NOK 7

About the car
Place of manufacture: China
Colour: Black
Equipment level: Luxus
Leased by Rent
Owner: Drivalia Norway
Model: 2023
Mileage: 2721
Km driven: 112
Source: MGmotor.eu, Vegvesen.no


 

 

An MG deserves a good look, right?

Slow charging on a municipal charger.

 

See

MG Cyberster inspired by the MGB Roadster
Electric car on the smooth

How we test the cars

MG Cyberster inspired by the MGB Roadster

MG Cyberster

 
MG Cyberster driver's seat.

 
MG Cyberster (source: pcauto.pcvideo.com.cn)

MG evokes fond memories for many. Today, MG is owned by the Chinese conglomerate SAIC, which thus also manages the legacy of the legendary car brand. Now the memories will be brought to life through the MG Cyberster.

 

Between MGB and Ferrari

MG's new sports car is an electric roadster with performance and handling that can compete with supercars from Italy. Although one can trace similarities between the early MGB and the Cyberster, it is worth noting that at 4,54 meters in length the Cyberster belongs to at least two car classes above the MGB, - more in the same size as the Ferrari 296 Hybrid. Although it shares one thing with the MGB – it is relatively affordable for a sports car. In China, the most expensive model is marketed at a price equivalent to NOK 525. British media expect a price of 000 GBP - approx. NOK 50. In comparison, the Ferrari 000 Hybrid costs over NOK 650 million in Norway.

 

MG Cyberster on display at the Norwegian Sports Car Club's spring show 2025.

Marks the 100th anniversary

The last time anyone produced an electric roadster was the Lotus-based Tesla Roadster from 2008 to 2012. It was a signal model to show the potential of electric cars. Until then, electric cars were small, slow-moving cars for short journeys. One can perhaps speculate whether the MG Cyberster is also a signal model, albeit with a different message than Tesla. MG turns 100 in 2024, which will be celebrated with the Cyberster. I also think that more people than I wonder why someone buys one of the world's most famous sports car brands to produce boring everyday cars. SAIC needs a new sports car to remind people of MG's sports car era. I don't think many of today's 30-year-olds know what MGB is.

Promisingly equipped

It commits to developing a sports car under MG. SAIC's design studio is located in London and is led by Carl Gotham. They are the ones who designed Cyberster. The undercarriage has been reviewed and "fine-tuned" by Marco Fainello, earlier chassis dynamics engineer at Ferrari's F1 division in the Scuderia. The suspension at the front is double wishbones and multi-link suspension at the rear - with dynamically controlled damping. The ESP system can be switched off completely if you want to "operate". You will also find Brembo brakes, a Continental braking and stabilization system, intelligent cruise control and the possibility of remote parking. Many will probably also like the electric scissor doors and triple screen in the dashboard.

Driven on Chinese roads now

On MG's Chinese website you can order the MG Cyberster now. From the end of November this year, the Chinese car press has had cars made available to them. Whether it is about pre-production cars or production cars is a little unclear, but already in spring, pictures of the car were shown in connection with Guangzhou Auto Show. These were two cars made for taking photos – one left-hand drive and one right-hand drive. Before this, images of the prototype from 2021 were shown. These differ greatly from the production model. SAIC states on its news pages that the UK can expect to receive cars in mid-2024. I assume that also applies to Norway.

MG Cyberster on Norwegian roads.

 
MG Roadster in 3 variants (Source: SAIC Motors MG)

Three editions

In China you can get the Cyberster in three versions, where it will probably be the version with "dual motor" that will be most popular in our latitudes. The name of the equipment grades are translated from Chinese. Other designations may be used when the cars arrive in Europe.
 
Pioneer Edition has a small battery pack of 64 kwh, simple engine of 314 hp and 475 Nm with rear wheel drive. 0-100 stated at 4,9 seconds. Price in China: NOK 467.

Style Edition has a large battery pack of 77 kwh, a simple engine with several powers, 340 hp and 475 Nm with rear-wheel drive. Price in China: NOK 496.

Glamor Edition has a large battery pack, two engines with a combined 544 hp and 725 Nm with 4-wheel drive. 0-100 stated at 3,2 seconds. Price in China: NOK 525.

In addition to the three versions mentioned, it is planned to develop an extreme version, called "Red Hood". The cars can be delivered in the following three colours: red flame, Bullet Silver og Light Speedy Yellow. Ranges are stated as 500 and 580 km according to the Chinese measurement standard, which gives more optimistic figures than the WLTP measurements.

 

2024 MG Cyberster (computer manipulated image)

 
MG MGTF (2007-2011)

 
upper embankment
MG MGB

MG between MGB and Cyberster

MG is known for its light sports cars. Everyone remembers the 60s icon MGB – a conventional roadster and coupe – beautiful, smooth-driving and relatively affordable. From 1986, MG, along with what was left of British Leyland, was incorporated into Rover Group. They further developed the MGB into the RV8 with Rover's V8 engine, while also developing the MGF, a new lightweight model with a mid-engine. In 1995, Rover Group sold to BMW. They kept the MGF in production until 2000, when they sold MG/Rover back to a start-up British company called MG Rover Group. A sequel to MGF, called MGTF, was developed there, which was in production until the company went bankrupt in 2005. The estate was bought up by Chinese Nanjing Automobile who within 2 years managed to resume the production of MGTF in China, at the same time they restarted MG's production in Longbridge, England, where they sent parts from China for assembly. Production ceased in 2010. Meanwhile, Nanjing Automobile had been incorporated into SAIC. The next sports car in the series will be the Cyberster, 14 years later.

See

mg cyberster
MG MGB
MG MGF
Ferrari 296

Birger N. Haug: MG Cyberster

The low-cost cars

Dacia spring
2022 Dacia Spring. Photo: NikD51/Depositphotos.com

If the EU is to achieve its goals of increasing the proportion of emission-free vehicles, car manufacturers must focus on good cars in the A and B segments. People living in big European cities prefer small cars for 20 euros - not SUVs for more than 000.

 

If it goes as the EU has now finally decided, from 2035 only zero-emission vehicles will be allowed to be sold. The aim is to increase the proportion of cars with zero emissions, but there are many things that can slow down this process – also after 2035. That is why charging options for street-parked cars must be developed. Furthermore, car manufacturers must focus on electric cars in the A and B segments. Southern Europeans choose cars that are not sold in Norway, such as Dacia, Fiat Panda and Renault Twingo.
 
Cheap electric cars are not to be despised in Norway either. Today you can get them in stock Nissan Leaf Accenta with 39 kwh to 232 or Mazda MX-30 for NOK 219.

 

2023 Nissan Leaf facelift. Photo: santirf/Depositphotos.com

Plenty of room in the back seat

The Nissan Leaf is a lot of car for the money

Today's model is on its way out and will be replaced by a new model that will probably share the drivetrain with the Megane E-Tech. This may mean that the starting price of the new Nissan Leaf will be much more expensive than today. Another model that is now available for sale on the cheap is the Mazda MX-30. This model is also on its way out of the market without us knowing of any replacement.

Measures that can cut prices

The prices of batteries have increased considerably due to pressure on raw materials such as nickel, lithium and cobalt. In the long term, however, one can expect battery technology to be developed in such a way that they become cheaper to produce, and that they have increased capacity, lower weight, lower volume and lower price. The car industry can take further measures to cut costs in production. GM's new battery management system, for example, eliminates up to 90% of cables and connectors compared to other car brands. Tesla introduced a switchless dashboard in its Model 3. In the new version, the gear lever is also replaced by a touch function on the screen. Elon Musk is also supposed to have considered replacing the outside temperature sensor with a function that fetches the temperature on the Internet. Omitting switches, gear levers and perhaps computerized temperature gauges does not make the cars better - but can help create cheap cars without compromising safety, driving characteristics and range.
 

Dacia spring

Dacia Spring shown at Automobile Barcelona 2023. Photo: santirf/Depositphotos.com

 
Dacia Spring dashboard

 
In France, Dacia Spring is in 15th place in the number of cars sold so far this year - only beaten by the Tesla Model Y if we limit ourselves to electric cars. Dacia belongs to the Dacia-Lada division of Renault, which now no longer operates in Russia - only in Romania. The Dacia Spring electric car was first shown at the 2019 Shanghai Motor Show as Renault City K-ZE. Later it appeared as the Dacia Spring produced by D in China. The production location must be chosen to keep prices down. You can say that the Dacia Spring is designed not to cost more than 20 euros, - or to put it another way:

This is what you get for 20 euros

With a length of 3,73 metres, room for 4 and 300 liters of luggage, it ends up in the A-segment, although the tall shape with 5 doors makes the car seem larger than it actually is. The battery capacity is 27,4 kWh gross, of which 26,8 kWh is usable. That corresponds to the capacity of the electric cars most people could afford 10 years ago. It provides a range of 230 km thanks to its low weight and economical engine – 45 horsepower on a 1045 kg car. What drags the car down the most and makes the car unattractive in Norway is the lack of active temperature management of the batteries * 1) and that the model was awarded only one star in EuroNcap's crash tests.


One is tempted to say: "Close, but No Cigar".


Is hope lost for a good electric car at a low price?

Dacia Spring shows what is possible to build within 20 euros, or NOK 000. The model appeared 250 years ago. Can we expect a new model to appear in the same price range with better range, full thermal management of the batteries and collision safety on par with other models? 000 new, interesting models in the lower price range have already been announced. New Renault 5 og VW ID.2All are models that are intended to reach the "most people" in the EU. Although they are to manage it, they must have an ace up their sleeve – namely access to affordable batteries. Volkswagen plans to start production of its ID.2All in 2025 – at the same time as its own battery factory, PowerCo in Salzgitter, will start producing batteries. Renault has announced that its new model will have a new platform developed in collaboration with Nissan with batteries that are both lighter and less bulky than the current Zoe. Maybe there will be a new low-cost model from Nissan too? In 2025, Dacia has announced that there will be a brand new Spring.

 

Voilkswagen's new signature model

 
Renault 5 concept in front of the stadium for the French Open 2023 (Photo: Renault)

 
One of the most interesting news for 2025 could therefore be the new Dacia Spring. Volkswagen and Renault can certainly build nice small cars - which in this case will end up in the B segment - but I doubt that they will manage to push the prices below NOK 300. Perhaps Dacia can, but with an upgraded safety level and battery technology, the new model may be more expensive than the current model - although the prices from the low-cost manufacturer will probably be below the competition.

Autumn's new low-cost cars

MG MG4 Standard is a reasonably modern electric car with 5 doors, 5 seats, usable range of 351 km and liquid-based temperature management of the batteries. The model received 5 stars in EuroNcap's crash tests. The MG4 is thus the most affordable electric car that has not fallen short in important areas like the Dacia Spring did. It costs from NOK 273 in Norway.
 
BYD Dolphin is another model that will come to Norway. It appeared as a 2022 model in China and is being introduced in the EU these days. In the most affordable version, it must be equipped with modern Blade batteries of 30,72 kwh with a range of 301 km, but can also be obtained with larger battery packs at higher prices. In terms of price, it looks like the Dolphin could end up costing about the same as the MG4. The model has not yet been crash tested by EuroNcap.

 


BYD Dolphin at Manila International Auto Show 2023. Photo: imwaltersy/Depositphotos

 

 

Updated: 2024 Citroen ë-C3

(20.10.2023) Stellantis Citroen has announced that next year's Citroen ë-C3 – a car with a 320 km range at €23. In 300 the ë-C2025 YOU will arrive – a car with a 3 km range at an incredible €200. Thus it looks as if Citroen could become the model that opens up the important market for cheap cars in European cities. Today's C20 YOU belongs to the B-class, but was made in a cheap model to replace the former Citroen C000.
 

The new Citroen ë-C3 (Photo: Citroen)

 

See

Dacia spring
Voilkswagen's new signature model
Dacia spring
The Five will return
Leap 3.0 could pave the way for small cars

 

*1) Active temperature control of the battery cells ensures that the batteries are supplied with heat in cold areas and cooling during load/fast charging in warm areas. Dacia Spring has a reservoir for coolant, but it is only used to control the temperature in the electric motor - not the batteries.

 

Nissan Leaf campaign
Mazda MX-30 campaign

 

The Chinese are coming!

electric cars from china
The DFSK SERES SF5 is a crossover with a powerful battery pack and high performance that will arrive in Norway in 2021 (source: dfsk.com)

China's "New Energy" is forcing Chinese car manufacturers to switch to rechargeable cars. The transformation of the vehicle fleet in Norway means that new Chinese electric cars find their way here before other western countries.

 

Made in China

It is not certain that the dealers state that the new BMW iX3 is produced by Brilliance in Shenyang or that the Volvo XC60 is now produced in Chengdu together with Polestar. Other European car models are also fully produced in China, such as the Mercedes EQC, Volkswagen ID.4, Audi e-tron, Volvo XC40 Recharge and Tesla Model 3 – to stick to electric cars. These models are produced in China only to meet demand in the Chinese domestic market.

Chinese class trip

It is no secret that China has enjoyed formidable economic growth since the turn of the century. In 2019, 21 million cars were produced, of which only 3% went for export. The internal car market in China is unbelievably large, and Chinese people with strong purchasing power will not settle for anything. In addition, the Chinese authorities have introduced regulations with regard to "Corporate average fuel consumption and new energy". It is a program that will gradually switch domestic car production to "New Energy". The goal for 2020 is for 12% of all vehicles produced to be powered by electricity or hydrogen. Today, China is one of the fastest growing markets for rechargeable cars.

Much in common with Norway

It is the demand for electric cars that makes Chinese cars interesting in Norway. Today, Chinese car models are sent to Norway as the first western exporting country. Several completely new models are already in the focus of Norwegian players and may appear on Norwegian roads during 2021.

Chinese electric cars
BYD Han – battery pack of 76,9 Kwh. Supplied with either front-wheel drive or dual motor four-wheel drive (source: www.bydauto.com.cn)

BYD

BYD (Build Your Dreams) has already gained a foothold in Norway, primarily through the new electric-powered articulated buses that run in Oslo. BYD's commercial and passenger cars are distributed in Norway via RSA Car. The model range currently consists of a van and an SUV - BID T3 og THE WORLD OF Tang. Norway is the first western export country for these models. THE WORLD OF Tang is a full-size electric SUV with a large battery, long range and Tesla performance. The red sedan in the picture is a Tesla S "look-a-like" which is not imported to Norway - for now. BYD Inn ended up in 4th place among sold electric cars in China in October. This is one of several Chinese models that can give Tesla competition in Norway, given that the price is "right".

BYD Inn
Available as Luxury (FWD), Premium (FWD) and AWD
Battery capacity: 76,9 Kwh
Range:
– FWD: 605 km NEDC
– AWD: 550 km NEDC
Engine:
– FWD – Front: 218 HP, 330 Nm
– AWD – Front: 218 HP, 330 Nm – Rear: 268 HP, 350 Nm
0-100: 7,9s (FWD), 3,9s (AWD)
Length, width, height in cm: 498 x 191 x 150
Wheelbase: 292 cm
Not taken into Norway - but BYD has a Norwegian representative

BYD Inn
Atmospheric interior in BYD Han – one of several Chinese Tesla challengers
Chinese electric cars
BYD Tang – new electric SUV with large battery and high performance (source: www.bydauto.com.cn)

THE WORLD OF Tang
Length, width, height in cm: 487 x 195 x 172
Wheelbase: 282 cm
Battery capacity: 86,4 kWh
Range NEDC: 505 km
Engine: 509 HP, 610 Nm, 4WD
0-100: 4,6 seconds,
Top speed: 180 km/h
Own weight: 2295 kg
Max trailer weight: 1410 kg
Price in Norway: 599

SAIC Maxus

Maxus is represented in Norway through RSA Car. The vans e-Deliver 3 and EV80 have had the greatest success. Among other things, Posten and Bring have bought several cars. The Maxus Euniq 5 is a 7-seater passenger car for 400 which also comes with green plates. It is undoubtedly a lot of car for the money.

Chinese electric cars
The Maxus Euniq 5 is sold as a 7-seater or on green labels (source: www.maxus.com)

Maxus Euniq 5

Length, width, height in cm: 482 x 182 x 179
Wheelbase: 280 cm
Battery capacity: 52,5 kWh
Range according to the factory: 260 km WLTP (combined) and 356 km (urban).
Engine: 177 HP, 310 Nm, front wheel drive
Top speed: 160km/h
Own weight: 1810 kg
Number of seats: 7
Max trailer weight: 400 kg
Price in Norway: 399

Chinese electric cars
The MG ZS EV was the best-selling Chinese electric car model in Norway in 2020. Sold through Norwegian dealers.

MG ZS

Length, width, height in cm: 431 x 181 x 164
Wheelbase: 259 cm
Seats: 5
Engine: 141 HP, 353 Nm, FWD
Top speed: 140 km/h
0-100: 8,2 seconds
Battery capacity: 44,5 Kwh
Range: 263 km WLTP
Trailer not possible
Price in Norway (Comfort): 239
– (Luxury): 259

MG is an independent car brand produced by SAIC in Shanghai. MG is alive and well on the Chinese market. There are several models, most on fossil fuel. MG, like other Chinese car brands, must offer vehicles with "New Energy". The MG ZS is the company's first electric car. The cars are brought into Norway by Norwegian Mobility Group AS which is affiliated with the Subaru importer, the Gill Group. The MG ZS is sold, among other things, through the dealer chain Birger N Haug.

Xpeng – cars and clothes from China

Xpeng is considered China's 10th largest electric car manufacturer. This summer, the Norwegian importer ordered 100 cars of the G3 model. Norway is the car brand's first export country and opening to the European market - something that was highlighted in the Chinese press. Xpeng is taken into Norway by Zero Emission Mobility. The company was founded by the people behind it Norwegian Bunader who have been successful by sewing Norwegian bunads in China. Today, cars and clothes are imported from the same premises.

Xpeng G3 (source:xiapeng.com)

XPeng G3
Length, width, height in cm: 445 x 182 x 161
Wheelbase: 263 cm
Seats: 5
Engine: 194 HP, 300 Nm, FWD
Battery capacity: 66,5 Kwh
Range: 451 km WLTP
Trailer not possible
Price in Norway (G3 Smart): 358
– (G3 Premium): 379

New production facility

The XPeng G3 was put into production in 2018 at Haima (Hainan and Mazda) as part of the state-owned car group FAW Group. This summer, Xpeng opened its own production facility in Zhaoqing. The all-new model P7 is now produced at this facility. The P7 has performance and range completely on par with the Tesla Model 3. It also looks very good. In recent months, the new model has outsold the G3 in China.

Xpeng P7 – The Tesla challenger

Currently only sold in China, but since Xpeng has a Norwegian distributor, it is not inconceivable that it will appear here at home. The P7 can be delivered in four versions – two with rear-wheel drive and two with four-wheel drive. The two with rear-wheel drive have a range of 586 km and 706 km (!). The versions with four-wheel drive and dual motor have a range of 562 km. The top model "Peng Wing" has doors that tilt upwards like on a Lamborghini. An obvious courtship to Tesla customers. The P7 also offers self-driving technology. According to rumours, a former employee of Tesla should have uploaded software for Tesla's autopilot solution to the cloud and taken it over to Xpeng.

xpeng p7
The Xpeng P7 is a very beautiful car which, on paper, can challenge the Tesla Model 3. It will probably come to Norway and be sold through the Xpeng dealers (source: www.xiaopeng.com)

DFSK – Dongfeng SOKON

DFSK has factories in China, Indonesia and in the USA (MIshawaka, Indiana). The Norwegian importer of Subaru, Gill Gruppen, has set its sights on DFSK's electric cars. They will continue to take in new Subaru models, but not 2021 models. The DFSK models that are interesting for Norway are two high-built crossover models - DFSK E3 og DFSK SERES SF5. The car brand is DFSK, under Dongfeng Motor Group. In Norway, the cars will probably be marketed under the model name Seres.

dfsk e3
DFSK SERES 3 will probably arrive in Norway shortly and will replace Subaru at dealers (source: dfsk.com)

DFSK E3
Model name in China: DFSK SERES 3
Length, width, height in cm: 439 x 185 x 165
Wheelbase: 266 cm
Seats: 5
Engine: 160 HP, 300 Nm
Battery capacity: 52,56 Kwh
Range: 405 km
The brand has a Norwegian representative

DFSK SERES SF5
Brand new model (DFSK SERES 5)
Battery capacity: 90 kWh
Engine: 684 HP, 1039 Nm
0-100: 3,5 seconds
The brand has a Norwegian representative
Can also be supplied with a range extender
See picture at the top of the post!

Chery

Like several other Chinese manufacturers, Chery is a fairly young company. The car press pounced on the brand when they started exporting cars to Western countries 20 years ago. Chery seriously failed crash tests. Moreover, several models were alleged to be copies of Western models. Chery never had any success in Europe, but that may change now. The model Chery eQ5 (referred to as Ant in China) is a modern crossover that I'm pretty sure can be imported to Norway.

chery eq5
Chery eQ5 – medium-sized crossover with 70,1 Kwh battery pack.

chery eQ5

Length, width, height in cm: 463 x 191 x 165
Wheelbase: 283 cm
Net weight 1760 kg
Motorization (minimum): 160 HP, 250 Nm
Motorization (largest): 174 HP, 280 Nm
Battery capacity 70,1 Kwh
Range: 510 km NEDC
Top speed: 170 km/h

NIO

NIO was founded in 2014 to produce electric cars. In the myriad of different models, NIO stands out with its modern and western designs and technology. The NIO ES6 is a car that should attract interest from Norwegian customers. It is a challenger to the Audi e-tron. It became the 10th best-selling electric car in China for October. The same model is also available as a coupe variant under the name EC6. NIO has no Norwegian representative.

boy es6
The NIO ES6 is an Audi e-tron challenger that is not currently represented in Norway (source: nio.com)

NIO ES6
- Default
Battery capacity: 70 Kwh
Range: 420 km (combined), 490 km (urban)
Motorization: 430 HP (215 front and 215 rear).
0-100: 5,6 seconds
–Performance
Battery capacity: 84 Kwh
Range: 430 km (combined), 510 km (urban)
Motorization: 536 HP (215 front and 321 rear).
0-100: 4,7 seconds
Active air suspension, 4WD

voyah
Dongfeng - one of China's largest manufacturers has established a new electric car brand Voyah. The prototype looks like a cross between a Fisker Karma and a Tesla Model S (source: www.dfmc.com.cn)

In the throat of Tesla

The Tesla Model 3 has been very successful in China. Several car manufacturers are now launching "Tesla killers" - models that will hijack customers from Tesla. Just look at the BYD Han and Xpeng P7, - or Dongfeng Voyah - a prototype that shows what one of China's biggest automakers can create. Hengchi is a brand new car brand, formed by Chinese capital from the construction company China Evergrande Group. They went out last year and said they will become China's largest electric car manufacturer in 5 years. There is little doubt that Tesla is on the target.

If someone were to succeed in surpassing Tesla in China, it is not impossible that they could succeed in Tesla's country of Norway as well.

hengchi
Henqchi was established last year and has big plans backed by Chinese capital. Henqchi 1 fits into the Tesla Model S.

If you are wondering if your car is manufactured in China, you can check if the car's VIN number starts with "L". Car manufacturers do not always choose to state the correct country in the VIN number, but Chinese law requires that all goods exported must be clearly marked where they come from. Therefore, you can trust that cars manufactured in China always show "L" as the first character in the VIN number.


Sources

ChinaAutoWeb – A Guide to China's Auto Industry
Car New China on Facebook
CX Tech: Electric Carmaker Xpeng Shows New Factory
LMC Automotive: China Auto Exports

See

The Taycan sells better than the Mondeo
Range, range…
NIO changes the battery in 3 minutes