With China’s new-vehicle market still in the throes of a brutal price war, but growing steadily, some automakers plan to move their brands upscale after succeeding in capturing a lion’s share of industry sales with a wide array of electrified models.
While major automakers such as BYD Co. and Great Wall Motor Co. haven’t disclosed product plans for the Shanghai auto show, set to begin April 23, several smaller companies have shared an early look.
Voyah
Voyah, an EV brand under the umbrella of Dongfeng Motor Group Co., a large state-owned automaker, will display an upgraded version of its flagship SUV, the Free, at the Shanghai show.
The latest Free was developed in cooperation with Chinese technology giant Huawei Technologies, Voyah said.
The MG CyberX teaser picture hints at the boxy SUV.
MG, Roewe
SAIC Motor Corp.’s MG brand will unveil a boxy SUV, the Cyber X, at the Shanghai show. The vehicle, designed for global markets, will be pitched as a young customer’s “first toy for urban adventures,” the brand said.
Jozef Kaban, former design chief at Volkswagen Group and creator of the Bugatti Veyron supercar, was hired by SAIC in April 2024 as vice president in charge of its global design center in Shanghai.
SAIC’s Roewe brand will reveal two concept models crafted by Kaban at the Shanghai auto show.
Zeekr
Zeekr, Geely Automobile Holdings’ premium EV brand, will present a full-size plug-in hybrid SUV, the 9X.
The 9X, with proprietary plug-in hybrid technology, represents “an important step for Zeekr brand to advance toward the high-end market,” the company said.
A prototype of the Onvo L90 crossover.
Onvo
Onvo is the second brand created by Nio, an EV startup, following its namesake marque. On April 3, Onvo posted a camouflaged L90, a full-size full-electric SUV, which will debut in Shanghai.
The vehicle is Onvo’s second product, following the L60, a compact crossover that went on sale in September with a starting price of 206,900 yuan ($28,260).
The i8 is Li Auto’s second full-electric model.
Li Auto
Li Auto’s core products are range-extended SUVs and large crossovers. The EV startup plans to unveil the i8, a compact full electric crossover, at the Shanghai auto show.
The i8 will be Li Auto’s second full-electric product, following the Mega, a full-size multipurpose vehicle. The i8 is expected to compete with the Tesla Model Y in China.
RELATED ARTICLE: Xpeng adds minivan to lineup, readies global push
The Xpeng G7 is empowered by artificial intelligence.
Xpeng
Like Nio, Xpeng is a startup focused on developing EVs. Xpeng, partly owned by Volkswagen Group, plans to reveal the G7.
The AI-empowered compact crossover, to be introduced in Shanghai, will be priced above 250,000 yuan, Xpeng said.
On April 16 in Hong Kong, Xpeng also introduced the X9 minivan.