Waiting for the initial testing phases, the Caoa Chery EQ1 electric car model arrives with the mission of becoming the cheapest electric and subcompact car in Brazil    

During the launch of the Tiggo 7 Pro, Marcio Alfonso, CEO of Caoa Chery, confirmed in an interview that the brand will launch two completely new cars in Brazil in 2022. It is expected that the main launch will be the EQ1, an electric vehicle model considered subcompact, having only two front doors and with capacity for up to four people. According to Alfonso, the model is already in Brazil awaiting the initial testing phase. The CEO also said that the EQ1, imported from China, has already arrived with the main objective of becoming the cheapest electric car ever launched in the country.

Read also

• Tesla inaugurates the first station that uses only solar energy to recharge electric cars
• Wind farm in Rio Grande do Norte in the final commissioning phase
• Modec's FPSO MV-14 operated by Petrobras for 16 years, leaves Brazil for Europe for decommissioning
• Secretary of Environment and Sustainability of Pará approves installation license for Tecnored
• State of São Paulo presents an increase of 0,24% in the cost of civil construction materials in November

Outperforming the competition

According to Caoa Chery executives, the price of their new electric car will be between R$100 and R$150. The electric Kwid, also imported from China, has already been confirmed by the French manufacturer Renault to compete with the EQ1 and other models next year.

Within the French manufacturer itself, the EQ1 surpassed its first 'rival', a model of the QQ generation highly rated to be the cheapest ever manufactured. Chery even considered bringing the new generation of the QQ to launch, but this generation does not have the subcompact standard that had already been produced and sold in Brazil in recent years. The choice for the EQ1 was also based on the fact that it is much more technological and has a design more in line with Brazilian tastes.

EQ1 data sheet

The EQ1 is in its most up-to-date version. It has a 75 hp electric motor and efficient batteries, with capacity and autonomy to run up to 408 km, according to the NEDC cycle, being much more optimistic than the WLTP, which is more common among manufacturers.

According to basic factory tests, the EQ1 reaches a top speed of around 120 km/h. The body, all in aluminum, measures just over 3 meters in length and, even though it is a subcompact model and with a cramped interior, there is a large 10-inch front screen positioned vertically.  

Caoa Chery's plans for the future

In addition to the EQ1 and the model launched in 2019, the Arrizo 5e, launched in 2019, Chinese Chery intends to invest in hybrid models with domestic production. The CEO of Caoa Chery has not yet confirmed which model will be chosen by the manufacturer's executives, but it is estimated that it will be the fully updated Tiggo 8 model, which could be called the Tiggo 8 Pro.

The Tiggo 8 Pro will feature a redesigned front end, better positioned headlights and a hexagonal grille with chrome elements at the bottom. Super endowed with all-wheel drive, Caoa Chery stated that the Tiggo 8 – possibly hybrid – has enough power to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 5 seconds. What has been most surprising in Alfonso's statements is the promise that the Tiggo 8's fuel consumption will be over 100 km/l.