Wuling Hongguang MINIEV Teardown

A practical, simple structure as a city commuter

2022/03/31

Summary
Main specifications of the Wuling Hongguang MINIEV
Body skeleton
Seats
Safety system (airbags, seatbelts)
Air conditioning system (air conditioner compressor, PTC heater)
Battery
Drive motor

Summary

Hongguang MINIEV Teardown Survey

This report focuses on the structure and equipment of inexpensive EVs (electric vehicles) based on the teardown survey of SAIC-GM-Wuling’s Hongguang MINIEV conducted by Kobelco Research Institute, and explains it in comparison with Japanese mini vehicles.

The Wuling Hongguang MINIEV is known as a low-priced model with a minimum price of CNY 28,800 (approx. JPY 480,000) for the low-cost “Casual” base grade version, and sales in China have been strong since its launch in July 2020. The overall length of the vehicle is shorter than that of Japanese mini vehicles, and the overall width is slightly larger. With a minimum turning radius of 4.2 m, it handles well enough for a city commuter. Although this model can be driven on highways, it was developed as a city commuter mainly for low-speed driving, which is thought to have made it possible to achieve this low price.

Visible parts such as interior and exterior are ingeniously designed and colored, and do not give a strong impression of cheapness. However, cost reductions can be felt in battery-related parts, the body frame, the lack of equipment, and the simplification of the equipment can be seen in the fact that airbags are not installed and the seats are integrated with the headrests. In addition, there is no undercover at the bottom of the body, leaving the battery and drive motor exposed.

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