Haval Raptor
Now that we have detailed October 2023 Chinese wholesales, it is time to study the new locally produced models hitting the Chinese market this month. This way you can stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the largest and most dynamic market in the world. This month we have 8 new models landing in the ranking, 7 of them Chinese, indicating once again that foreign legacy OEM are overwhelmed by the launch bonanza of domestic carmakers big and small. To fully understand the scope of the Chinese market, make sure you consult our Exclusive Guide to all 199 active Chinese Brands.
1. Haval Raptor (5,084 sales)
Haval continues on its steady flow of novelties hitting the Chinese market. It is much needed as the brand is down -12.4% over the first 10 months of 2023, ranking at a lowly 15th place. The only issue is these launches are starting to all look very similar. This Raptor is once again inspired by the Land Rover Defender with its boxy design and round headlights, not so different from the Haval Big Dog (Dargo) and Cool Dog. The Raptor is a five- seat compact SUV only offered as an all-wheel drive PHEV.
Two different battery packs are on offer: a 19.1 kWh or 27.5 kWh lithium iron phosphate unit. The total outputs are 373 or 378 hp. This vehicle is made for off-road, with a 20cm ground clearance, 56cm fording depth, an approach angle of 24 degrees and departure angle of 30 degrees. Inside, the Raptor has a prominent 14.6-inch infotainment screen and 13.2-inch LCD instrument panel with a head-up display attached to it. The seats, central armrest and door panels are all assorted. The Raptor is priced from 165,800 to 183,800 yuan (21,100-23,400€ or US$22,900-25,400), compared to 123,800 to 149,800 for the Cool dog. It has received 25,000 orders since pre-orders started in late August including 10,000 during the first 10 days so we are optimistic for the Raptor’s long term success.
Bar for success: 8,000 monthly sales
2. Tank 400 (3,102 sales)
The 400 is the third Tank model to be launched after the 300 and 500. Tank sales are in good shape this year, with a 7% increase over the first 10 months of the year and 39.3% increase in October. As a reminder, Tank is a high end brand by Great Wall Motors The addition of the 300 could take the brand to yet another level at home. Originally unveiled at Auto Shanghai in April 2021, the 400 is finally hitting the Chinese market. It is a mid-size 5 seat body on frame SUV at 4985 mm long with a very angular silhouette, some would say a little too busy. At least Great Wall is keeping the Tank models in their very own design bubble. The 400 is the first Tank model to be offered exclusively as a PHEV model.
It is powered by a 245 hp 2.0T engine paired with a 163 hp electric motor for a total of 408 hp. This is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The battery is a 37.1 kWh ternary (NMC). Combined range is 800 km. The 400 is a true off-road vehicle, with a 224 mm ground clearance, an approach angle of 33 degrees and departure angle of 30 degrees and a fording depth of 800 mm. The interior features a 16.2-inch infotainment screen and a 12.3-inch LCV instrument panel. The Tank 400 is priced from 279,800 to 289,800 yuan (35,600-36,900€ or US$38,600-40,000) and will compete notably with the upcoming Fang Shen Bao Leopard 5 (289,800-352,800 yuan). The Tank 400 received 8,500 pre-sales orders. So far, the Tank 300 peaked at 11,958 sales and the Tank 500 at 5,536 so we’re looking at somewhere in the middle for a peak sales, a little bit lower for longer term sales.
Bar for success: 6,000 monthly sales
3. and 4. Qiyuan A05 (884 sales) and A06 (661 sales)
In case you missed it, Qiyuan (启源, translating as “origin”) is a new brand by Changan dedicated to mid level New Energy Vehicles, unveiled at the Chengdu Auto Show last August. It is the third brand launched by Changan recently alongside Avatr and Shenlan/Deepal. At the show announced extreme ambitious plans, aiming at selling 1.5 units by 2030. After the A07 last month, two additional sedans already make their appearance in the wholesales ranking: the A05 and A06.
The A05 is a 4785mm long PHEV with a striking snout and hidden door handles. It features a creative thin horizontal opening at the centre of the front of the car. Its interior features a 13.2-inch vertical infotainment screen and a 10.25-inch slim LCD instrument panel. The A05 is powered by a plug-in hybrid system combining a 1.5L hybrid engine and an electric motor. It is a front-wheel drive vehicle. There are two powers available for the electric motor: 140 and 158 KW. Two battery packs are available: a 9.07 kWh ternary lithium and a 19 kWh lithium iron phosphate. Combined cruising ranges are 1225 and 1300 km. The A05 is priced from 89,900 to 132,900 yuan (11,400-16,900€ or US$12,400-18,300) and will compete with the likes of the BYD Qin Plus (99,800-179,800 yuan), Geely Galaxy L6 (115,800-149,800 yuan, BYD Destroyer 05 (101,800-157,800 yuan) and the in-house Changan Yida (83,900-107,900 yuan) and Changan UNI-V (108,900-139,900 yuan).
The Qiyuan A06 is, surprisingly, a little shorter than the A05 at 4720mm but looks much sportier. It is also a PHEV, more of a fastback vehicle with the mandatory hidden door handles. The interior is a little old school by today’s Chinese standards, with no giant screen in the centre console but a 10.3-inch slim screen. The instrument panel is composed of three screen: 3, 10.3 and 7-inch. The A06 is powered by the same 1.5L engine as the A05 combined with an electric motor. The battery packs available are the same also, as are the engine outputs. The combined range is 1,160 km. The pricing of the A06 hasn’t been communicated yet but as the A06 slots in between the A05 and A07 it should start around 110,000-120,000 yuan (14,000-15,300€ or US$15,200-16,600).
Bar for success: 5,000 monthly units for both models
5. Polestones 01 (72 sales)
Polestones is – yet – a new Chinese EV brand hitting the market, formally known as Stone. After financial problems hampered Rox Auto, the company decided to collaborate with BAW to launch its EREV SUV. The result is Polestones (极石汽车, Jishi Auto in Mandarin), with BAW which taking care of production. Note BAW is just a contract assembler and isn’t tied to Rox Motor by a joint venture. The brand’s first model is the 01, it is an extended range hybrid (EREV) SUV with a ternary lithium battery pack. Apart from BAW, Polestones is already collaborating with big names in the industry: Bosch, CATL, Continental, and Valeo, and Pininfarina was charged with designing the exterior and interior of the 01. The 01 is a mid-size 6- or 7-seater and comes at 5050mm long or 5295mm for the 7-seater. The wheelbase is 3010mm.
It is powered by a 154 hp 1.5L turbocharged engine paired with dual electric motors with a combined 469 hp. The 01 can reach 100 km/h in just 5.5 seconds. As mentioned above, the 56 kWh battery pack comes from CATL. Combined range is a whopping 1,338 km. This SUV delivers a multitude of unique offerings, all coming standard. There is a 270 degrees canopy that can unfold from the car and be installed in just three minutes. The back door can serve as mobile kitchen with all necessary storage space inside. In the 7-seater, there is the possibility to fold the 2nd and 3rd row to make a large bed. We’re all ready for going camping! The 01 is priced from 349,900 to 359,900 yuan (44,500-45,800€ or US$48,300-49,700) and will compete with the likes of the Li Auto L7 (319,800-379,800 yuan), Fang Shen Bao Leopard 5 (289,800-352,800 yuan) and will aim at the Land Rover Defender (688,000-1,716,000 yuan) and BMW X5 (612,000-800,000 yuan). Predicting sales is an unknown territory for a new brand but to see it survive we’d want to look at 5,000 monthly sales.
Bar for success: 5,000 monthly sales
6. Hycan V09 (67 sales)
Hycan (in Mandarin 合创) is an EV brand originally created by a new joint venture between GAC and NIO called GAC-NIO New Energy Automobile Co. NIO’s share was subsequently reduced to 5% and then to 0%. Hycan models are meant to slot halfway between the mainstream GAC and premium NIO brands. The V09 is the brand’s first MPV offering. It is, of course, an EV, and was announced by a concept in November 2021 at the Guangzhou Auto Show, then officially presented in December 2022. Keep in mind that even if they have somewhat fallen out of fashion in the rest of the world, large MPVs are hot in China. The V09 is 5215 mm long with a 3170 mm wheelbase. The sliding doors are electric.
The vehicle’s exterior design is daring and futuristic, as is fitting for this segment (see Toyota Alphard). These cars generally not being driven by their owner, 2nd row seats are usually luxurious and this is the case here. The V09 is a 7-seater in a 2+2+3 format. The interior of the car matches the exterior with a striking design. Indeed the dashboard is composed of three digital screens side by side: a 10.25-inch LCD instrument panel, a 14.6-inch infotainment screen and a 12.3-inch passenger entertainment screen. There is also a screen folding from the roof for 2nd row passengers. There are three battery packs available for the V09: 92 kWh or 114 kWh nickel cobalt manganese and 95 kWh lithium iron phosphate.
The V09 is priced from 318,800 to 438,800 yuan (40,600-55,800€ or US$44,000-60,600) and will compete with the Denza D9 (335,800-660,000 yuan) and the GAC Trumpchi E9 (329,800-389,800 yuan) among others. The Hycan Z03 peaked at 4,416 units and the A06 at just 456 so the V09 is a gamble.
Bar for success: 2,500 monthly units
Additionally, two other models made their first appearance in the wholesales ranking this month: JAC X8 Plus (2,257 sales) which is transferred from the Sehol brand, and the BMW iX1 (50 sales) we know in the rest of the world.
