1. Home
  2. / Construction
  3. / Chinese automaker clones Volkswagen's iconic Kombi, right after shamelessly manufacturing an electric copy of the Beetle
reading time 4 min read

Chinese automaker clones Volkswagen's iconic Kombi, right after shamelessly manufacturing an electric copy of the Beetle

Written by Flavia Marinho
Published 05/06/2021 às 08:20
Updated 06/06/2021 às 08:32
kombi - Volkswagen - beetle - chevrolet - Corvette - Gol - Voyage - SP - factory - production - electric car - chinese
Volkswagen Kombi type 2 / Source: Reproduction – Google

At the time, the multinational Volkswagen was not at all satisfied with the electric copy of the Beetle that was blatantly made and wanted to sue Great Wall Motors.

Chinese industry still hasn't abandoned some old habits, and the multinational Volkswagen was not at all flattered by the electric car manufacturer ORA, which is part of the Great Wall Motors group. The brand recently presented a Beetle clone at the Shanghai Motor Show. Named ORA Punk Cat, the vehicle has the same traits as the iconic VW car. As if that weren't enough, another Chinese automaker, SongSang Motors, made a clone of the iconic Kombi, will it be a “sleeve cloth”?

Read also

The Chinese automaker has launched a new model inspired by an existing one. In this case it is the SongSang Motors that presented the SS Summer, a van with a retro design clearly based on the Volkswagen Kombi or Type 2, as seen below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Obi4hkdsfw0
THEY CLONATED THE KOMBI IN CHINA

Unlike the original model manufactured by the German automaker Volkswagen, the horn was front and more prominent and at the back the help nuematic stuck externally, located right in the center.

The clone of the iconic Kombi is almost 5 meters long and adds the possibility of raising the height of the interior through the concept of a removable roof, as was done in the old VW Kombi equipped by Westfalia. Because when it came to copying, the Chinese had it complete.

Its engine is hybrid and is provided by an electric propellant and another turbocharged 1,5 liter turbocharger, with which it reaches a combined power of 320 hp, with a range of 550 km (according to the manufacturer).

This “beauty” is not cheap for western pockets: is priced at 288 yuan (about Rs 45), and the first deliveries of this model will be made in 2022.

Volkswagen wants to sue Chinese automaker for shamelessly manufacturing an electric copy of the iconic Volkswagen Beetle

It is possible to see that ORA was inspired – not to say that it blatantly copied – the traits of the Volkswagen Beetle in its new Punk Cat. The hood with a curved design, the rounded headlights and the rear design, complete with oval taillights, refer to the old beetle.

The interior of the ORA Punk Cat is also reminiscent of the Beetle, as it is equipped with a three-spoke steering wheel and circular instruments and dials. Despite the retro footprint, the interior offers a multimedia screen and cantilevered center console.

But the creation of this car with a “time machine feeling”, as ORA said, did not please Volkswagen at all.

THEY CLONATED THE BEETLE IN CHINA

Volkswagen was not the only "hostage" of the Chinese, the automaker SongSang Motors also cloned the first generation Chevrolet Corvette in the face

It is not the first time that SongSang Motors has ventured into a copy, last year it unveiled at the Beijing Motor Show the SS Dolphin model that is blatantly a copy of the first generation Chevrolet Corvette.

Many saw it as a kind of tribute, bringing an iconic model to this time, but with an electric motor.

The SongSang Dolphin, a Chinese and electric copy of the 1957 Corvette.

Be the first to react!
React to article
Flavia Marinho

Flavia Marinho is a postgraduate engineer with extensive experience in the onshore and offshore shipbuilding industry. In recent years, she has dedicated herself to writing articles for news websites in the areas of industry, oil and gas, energy, shipbuilding, geopolitics, jobs and courses. Contact flaviacamil@gmail.com for suggestions, job openings or advertising on our website. Do not send your resume, we are not hiring!

Share across apps