Hangzhou-based Geely will begin delivering the Class B sedan in February, hoping to target budget-sensitive mainland motorists, according to the company’s CEO Gan Jiayue.
“In terms of safety, design, performance and intelligence, E8 proves to be superior to all blockbuster models,” he said during a media briefing after a launch ceremony on Friday. “We expect it to be an ideal model to replace both existing petrol and electric cars.”
Geely lowered the price of the model by 12,200 yuan from its 188,000 yuan pricing on December 16 when presales started.
Based on the company’s Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA), the E8 is also its first full-electric car, following two plug-in hybrid vehicles – the L7 sport-utility vehicle and the L6 sedan – launched in 2023.
Short sellers target BYD, world’s top EV maker, as rivalry intensifies
Short sellers target BYD, world’s top EV maker, as rivalry intensifies
Its parent, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, also owns marquees including Volvo, Lotus and Lynk. Geely Holding has a nearly 6 per cent share of mainland China’s EV market.
The E8 uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 chip to support its intelligent features such as voice-activated controls. A 45-inch screen, the biggest in a Chinese-made smart vehicle, is supplied by display panel manufacturer BOE Technology.
At present, the Class B sedan category in China is dominated by petrol-powered models from foreign carmakers such as Volkswagen and Toyota.
China’s BYD overtakes Tesla as largest maker of pure-electric vehicles
China’s BYD overtakes Tesla as largest maker of pure-electric vehicles
Sales of battery-powered vehicles in mainland China are seen as growing 20 per cent year on year in 2024, according to a Fitch Ratings’ report in November, slowing from a 37 per cent rise last year, according to the China Passenger Car Association.
China is the world’s largest automotive and EV market, with sales of electric cars accounting for about 60 per cent of the global total. But only a few makers, including BYD and Li Auto, are profitable.
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Electric car designed by Swiss students sets new world record for acceleration
Electric car designed by Swiss students sets new world record for acceleration
A new round of price cuts is in effect, with top players like BYD and Xpeng offering discounts to lure buyers.
Battery-swapping technology allows owners of electric cars to quickly exchange a spent battery pack for a fully charged one.