A Chinese Electric Car May Compete Head-On With Market Leader Tesla, and Prices Are Attractive
An affordable electric car, sold in China for around US$ 4,500 (R$ 24,000), is becoming more popular than the sophisticated vehicles from rival American automaker Tesla. The compact electric car has proven to be a huge success for the state-owned SAIC Motor, the largest automaker in China. Named Hong Guang Mini EV, the electric car was developed in a business partnership with General Motors (GM), one of the giants in the industry.
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Last month, sales of this electric car were twice as high as its rival Tesla, which recently faced questions about the safety of its factory in China.
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Automotive experts said that, although the Chinese electric car is clearly behind its rival Tesla in terms of battery, range, and performance, its convenience and low price have made it one of the best-selling vehicles based on new energy sources in China.
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The vehicle, which was launched in 2020, reaches a top speed of 100 km/h and can accommodate four people snugly.
Chinese Government Aims to Reduce Pollution with Innovation in Electric Cars
“The Chinese government takes pollution reduction seriously and has become a global leader in the adoption and promotion of innovation in electric vehicles,” says Shaun Rein, director of the China Market Research Group, to the BBC.
“We remain very optimistic about the adoption of low-cost electric vehicles, like the Hong Guang Mini EV, and even the more sophisticated ones, such as NIO and Tesla.”
To promote these new cars, the Chinese government offers guarantees to buyers and even exemptions from fees and taxes, which is very beneficial. In many cities, acquiring a gasoline-powered car can take months, if not years, because it relies on an auction system.
