Baic is entering the mini-city car segment with its new Jiabao, an electric car priced at less than 7,000 euros. For the time being only reserved for China, it could then harm the Dacia Spring if it ever arrived with us. Which cannot be ruled out.
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Founded in 1958, Baic Motor is a Chinese group unknown in Europe but very important in its native country. Having shares in Daimler as well as Hyundai, the Asian firm also produces its own cars via various brands such as Beijing or Arcfox, which formalized its Kaola a few weeks ago. It is then an electric car designed for young parents and offering many clever features for babies.
A new arrival
If the group is talking about him today, it is also for the arrival of a brand new model. The Chinese site It Home indeed announces the official revelation of the Baic Jiabao, a micro-city car which should then notably compete with the Geometry Panda Mini which has also just been unveiled. But not only, since it will also hunt on the lands of the Tiago.ev designed by Tata Motors as well as the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV.
Displaying a length of only 3.53 meters for 1.50 meters wide and 1.61 meters tall, this newcomer to the market sports a much more aggressive style than that of the adorable Panda Mini. We then find more angular optics, which extend into a wide black band incorporating the brand logo. The full grille is surrounded by fog lights while the rear features rectangular lights.
With five doors, this Baic Jiabao can accommodate up to four people on board while its wheelbase measures only 2.28 meters. If the trunk volume has not been specified, it should not be able to accommodate a lot of business. The presentation of the driving position is very modern, with a large digital panel incorporating a touch screen and a digital handset with a diagonal of 7 to 20.25 inches depending on the chosen finish.
It will be possible to connect your smartphone, but nothing has been said about compatibility with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. It is also specified that the car will be equipped witha voice control system as well as navigation. On the other hand, it will be necessary to wait before having more information on the complete technological endowment of the city car.
No fast charging
Based on Baic’s Starry Sky platform, as specified by the Chinese site Auto Homethis newcomer to the range displays a power of 25 kW, the equivalent of 34 horsepower for 100 Nm of torque, all sent to the rear wheels. For comparison, the Dacia Spring develops between 44 and 65 horsepower in its official Extreme version a few weeks earlier.
However, two batteries are offered, offering a range of between 122 and 172 kilometers according to Chinese cycle CLTC. Be careful, because this is much more optimistic than our European WLTP, for which you have to remove around 15%, which corresponds to 104 and 146 kilometers. The Spring can travel up to 230 kilometers on a single charge. To note that the Baic Jiabao is not compatible with fast charging and then it takes seven hours to fill its battery.
The recipe for an affordable electric car
A real defect for the city car, which however compensates with an ultra-affordable price. And for good reason, this one is displayed from 46,900 yuan, which is equivalent to 6,446 euros. It is even less than the 7,700 euros requested for the Citroën Ami and incomparable with the 20,800 euros for the Dacia Spring. But there is no doubt that the prices will be revised upwards if the Baic Jiabao arrives here, in order to pay the import and customs fees.
Which is not to be excluded, while many Chinese brands have now decided to invest in the European market, such as Nio, Xpeng, BYD or even MG which will expand the range of its MG 4 with a more efficient version, rival of the Tesla Model 3 Performance. A situation that still worries specialists, while the Old Continent could end up becoming a simple importer by 2025.
In Europe, we currently do not have ultra-affordable electric cars. The recipe is simple, however, as this car proves: a small format and a small battery. Enough to produce an electric car using much less material. This type of car meets most of the needs of an electric car very well. Remember that the majority of French people currently travel less than 50 km per day on average with their car according to Ipsos.
https://www.frandroid.com/products-android/automobile/electric-cars/1518596_chinese-electric-cars-sold-in-europe-why-are-they-more-expensive-quen-china
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