While everyone’s busy talking about Tesla’s dominance in China, it turns out Tesla Model 3 isn’t Chinese’s top selling electric vehicle (EV)– it’s a GM vehicle. Wuling Hong Guang is a mini EV developed by a General Motors’ local Chinese joint venture. The tiny Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV outsold Tesla’s electric sedan and costs a fraction of the price.
According to a report from Reuters, Wuling Hong Guang is the most sold EV model in China, with 15,000 cars sold in China in August alone. The tiny boxy micro electric car, which was first announced in July, became China’s best selling EV in August just a month after it launched. The Hong Guang’s impressive first-month sales figures unseated the Tesla Model 3 as the country’s best selling electric car.
Reuters, citing Chinese industry data, said Tesla only sold 11,800 Model 3 sedans during the same period. Part of what makes Hong Guang Mini EV more appealing to Chinese buyers is likely due to its price. Chinese buyers find the boxy EV affordable at just $4,200 at current exchange rates. For comparison, the Model 3 starts at $42,691 locally.
Hongguang MINI EV is a two-door micro electric vehicle launched by the joint venture between GM, SAIC Motor Corp, and another partner, SGMW, in July. The starting price for the Hongguang MINI EV is 28,800 yuan ($4,200), less than 10% of the 291,800 yuan starting price for Tesla’s China-made Model 3 vehicles before they get government subsidies.
Meanwhile, Tesla sold 11,000 Shanghai-made Model 3 vehicles in China in July, according to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).
