How Chinese Car Designs Are Overcoming Socialist Shadows to Wow the World

As China’s electric vehicle market intensifies, attempts are being made to capture consumers in various ways. The most direct way is to strengthen competitiveness through price reduction. BYD, which ranks first in the Chinese electric vehicle industry, has begun targeting consumers through discounts ranging from 5% to 20%.

As there are concerns about a decrease in profits due to price cuts, there are growing voices in China that electric vehicle companies must improve their profitability models. Among these, electric vehicles with unique configurations have recently become a hot topic in China and South Korea, attracting attention.

Can’t open the door if there’s a vehicle next to it
Drivers have to exit through the window

That vehicle is Wuling Motor’s Hongguang BIG EV. Even at a glance, we can see that the vehicle is long. At first glance, it looks so unrealistic that it seems like a 3D graphic design, but it is a model made as an actual vehicle in China. The length is approximately 4,610 mm (181.5 inches), but the side doors are connected as one long door.

The door is vast, but the problem is that it is too long, so various inconveniences are expected. Even if the vehicle is parked, it appears that the door cannot be opened if there is another vehicle or obstacle next to it. In this situation, there is no way to escape through the window. When stopped on the side of the road and the door opened, it appeared to be enough to block at least one lane.

For the interior, a unique layout
However, it is not an official model

The interior has a unique look. It has a 2+3 seat layout, but the middle is empty. Some joke that it has more legroom than a Rolls-Royce, but it doesn’t seem very efficient. However, it seems possible to use it for car camping by loading cargo or placing a mattress in the space between.

It is expected to be transformed into a 9-seater model in a 2+2+2+3 configuration by adding seats to the space. It turned out that there was a reason why the vehicle had such an inefficient form. However, although the model in question was initially known as Wuling’s Hongguang Big EV, it was found that it was not the official model of Wuling Motors.

A modified Hongguang Mini EV
Priced at about $4,130

It is known that the model was modified by a company based on Hongguang Mini EV, an ultra-small electric vehicle launched by Wuling. The Hongguang Mini EV, on which it is based, has an ultra-small size of 2,917 mm (114.8 inches) in length. It was made by cutting and welding the body of the Hongguang Mini EV and appears to have been equipped with long doors to create an eye-catching result. The company that produced the vehicle set the price at about $ 4,130, but it does not appear to have led to actual sales as there were concerns about meeting standards such as safety.