Sales of SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile Co.’s latest full-electric vehicle model, an inexpensive, four-seat Wuling sedan, topped 15,000 in the first 20 days after hitting showrooms July 24.
In the same period, orders for the EV exceeded 50,000, the light-vehicle joint venture between General Motors and SAIC Motor Corp. said this month.
The early sales and orders have made the Wuling-badged vehicle the most popular EV it has rolled out, the partnership added.
The vehicle, known as the Hongguang Mini EV, was launched at an auto show organized by the south China city of Chengdu last month, with a starting price of 28,800 yuan ($4,162).
It is powered by lithium ion batteries and can drive for up to 120 kilometers on one charge and at a top speed of 105 km per hour.
Target customers are young drivers in Chinese cities, according to SAIC-GM-Wuling.
The Hongguang Mini EV is the third EV product SAIC-GM-Wuling has introduced following a two-seat Baojun electric sedan and a Wuling minibus.
SAIC-GM-Wuling, based in the southwest China city of Liuzhou, mainly builds minibuses for the Wuling brand and entry-level vehicles under the Baojun marque.
The company’s July sales in China rebounded for the fourth straight month, jumping 20 percent to 130,000, according to SAIC.
In the first seven months, cumulative deliveries slumped 23 percent to 661,040, reflecting a sharp first-quarter decline when the coronavirus ravaged China.
In China, GM also operates a separate joint venture with SAIC that produces and markets passenger vehicles for Cadillac, Buick and Chevrolet.