A comprehensive history of early Wulings can be found
in Volume 2 of On a Global Mission: The Automobiles
of General Motors International
Wuling sold over one million units each year since
2009. With a 44% interest in
SAIC-GM-Wuling, General Motors regards Wuling as a GM marque, while in China it
is an ‘independent’ brand. Wuling sold
more than 5.6 million Zhiguangs thus far, over 5 million RongGuangs/Chevrolet
N300, and almost 6.5 million HongGuangs/Chevrolet N400.
In 2022 the Wuling brand produced 1.6 million
vehicles, of which 600,000 pure electric, a year-on-year increase of 33%, also
valid for the over 193,000 exported vehicles.
As SGMW’s commercial car brand, the Wuling models are
traditionally rear-wheel drive with a rigid rear axle, including the electric
HongGuang MINI EV and Air. The late 2020
Victory however, which was intended as a Baojun, and the re-badged 730 are
front-wheel drive, as are the Wuling-branded Baojun models (Cortez and Almaz)
in Indonesia.
This continued at the arrival of the Xingchen Asta and
Nano EV in autumn 2021, and the 2022 Jiachen and 2023 Xingchi, which all are
Baojun-based.
The Nano EV is actually a Baojun E200 with a new
badge, signaling the demise of the Baojun brand.
Recent Wuling specifications can be found at On a Global Mission: The
Automobiles of General Motors International
Wuling
Zhiguang V December 2016 - 2020
Following the success of the 2015 HongGuang/RongGuang
V, the engine was now moved forward under the hood (with the wheelbase extended
by 10 cm) instead of under the front seats as was the case with the earlier
Zhiguangs. This little microvan, about 4
meters long, with a rigid rear axle and leaf springs, was for commercial use
and could accommodate up to eight seats.
Zhiguang sales dropped from 90,000 in 2017 to 80,000
in 2018, and 43,000 in 2019, after these had lowered with some 100,000 each
year since in 2010 the 700,000 mark was neared, a number achieved in a similar
upward move since sales started in 2003.
The Zhiguang outsold its competitors Jinbei Xiaohai Lion X30 and
Dongfeng Xiaokang K07II in 2019, while the larger RongGuang S (60,000 in 2019)
outsold the Zhiguang.
Though the Sunshine name was mentioned in China in the
early years of its career, this name nowadays is only shown in publications in
English, and is not familiar to the Chinese.
The Zhiguang V sold only marginally compared to the Zhiguang, and it was
deleted by 2020, when no National 6b engines appeared for the Zhiguang S and
the extended Zhiguang either, leaving the (3rd generation) 2013 model
Zhiguang with 2, 5 or 7 seats, as well as the pick-up models. The speed limit for the Zhiguang and
RongGuang S, equipped with the upgraded 1.2 56 kW national 6b engine, became
100 km/h (105 km/h for the extended RongGuang), while both RongGuang S and
extended version were now available with electrical power steering.
The original (2008) RongGuang is still popular in
Egypt as Chevrolet Move N300, while in South America it has been replaced by
the HongGuang V based Chevrolet N400.
In 2021, 40,000 Zhiguang (S) were sold (vs 66,000
RongGuang S). In the summer of 2022, the
(2013-style) extended Zhiguang model was deleted.
In 2022 about 52,000 RongGuang S were sold, and 7,300
extended RongGuangs left the facory. The
RongGuang S was best seller in its class.
Wuling sold almost 32,000 (notably 2013-style) Zhiguangs in 2022.
Wuling
HongGuang S3 (CN120S) November 2017 -
This 7-seater was presented as Wuling’s first SUV (but
relocated as an MPV in March 2018), with the availability of an independent
rear suspension with ESC on the top models.
On an 8 cm extended HongGuang chassis, it kept the classical
longitudinally placed front engine with rear-wheel-drive. In 2019, about one quarter (88,500) of
HongGuangs were S3 models. An automatic
clutch model became available in March 2019, a Wuling novelty. This was not the 5-speed Aisin version, used
by Baojun for this 1485cc engine, but a Schaeffler-built 6-speed unit. The only Wuling with a conventional automatic
transmission has been the HongGuang S from August 2014 for about two years.
The HongGuang S3 effectively replaced the HongGuang
S1, which wasn’t a success. Firmer
footed, lower, but hardly wider than the HongGuang S, the higher price of the
S1 had persuaded people to opt for the Baojun 730.
The S1 started being built as Wuling Confero in
Indonesia in July 2017, to which the 6-speed electronic clutch unit was made
available in spring 2019. The price
difference with the (second generation) Baojun 730 based Wuling Cortez was here
larger than in China. A more commercial
Wuling Formo, still with rear coil springs, was added in November 2018, with
the ex-Daewoo 1206cc engine.
In January 2023 Wuling Indonesia introduced the Formo
Max, a Formo-derived truck with the 1485cc engine, on a 316 cm wheelbase and
with rear leaf springs. Wuling China
never offered a Hongguang-derived truck, but the new Rongguang truck from July
2018 has a wheelbase a 335 cm.
In 2021, over 30,000 HongGuang S3 units were sold, in
2022 less than 20,000.
Wuling
new HongGuang S (CN115) August 2018 -
Still sold
next to its predecessor (CN112), which it is now only offered with a 1.2 engine and
leaf springs, this is the first rebodied basic HongGuang, itself dating from
September 2010. The rear axle is the
rigid 5-link with coils, but a base model with rear leaf springs was added in
March 2019. GM Media reported: “In the process of product design and construction, the new Wuling
HongGuang S changed the new MPV idea, brought the SUV feeling into the MPV, and
continued to promote the advantages of family space, power, fuel consumption
and other products.”
The first
HongGuang S from August 2013, incorporating a Chevrolet-style chrome-plated bar,
had elevated HongGuang sales to over 500,000, depressing Zhiguang/Sunshine
sales under the half million mark, and keeping Wuling as the top car model
seller in China for 15 years in a row from 2003 up to 2017 (10 years
Zhiguang/Sunshine, 5 years HongGuang).
In 2019, with 375,000 units, total market HongGuang sales ranked third
after the Volkswagen Lavida and Great Wall Haval H6, but it kept the first
place among MPVs.
Following GM
Media “the nameplate has been especially popular among small and intermediate
enterprises, as well as private entrepreneurs, for personal and business
use”. About 6% of all HongGuangs in 2019
had the 1.2 engine. Both ‘classic’ and
new HongGuang S models are 7-seaters, but 5-seat and 8-seat configurations are
possible.
Almost
195,000 HongGuang S models were sold in 2021, of which 30,000 with the old body
of 2010. Over 120,000 HongGuang S were
sold in 2022.
Wuling
HongGuang V (CN110V) March 2019 -
On a 13 cm
longer wheelbase and with the 1485cc engine, this commercial-orientated model with sliding passenger door and a leaf spring rigid rear axle, was sold till 2020 next to the
cheaper RongGuang V, which is basically the same vehicle. Originally, this new HongGuang V was meant to
be sold as RongGuang V to succeed on it, itself launched in 2015 as a HongGuang
V, to be renamed later that year to set it apart from the
HongGuang MPV, with the original RongGuang and S basically a different smaller
design.
Both have a
short front end, with the driveshaft to the rear wheels beneath the floor. The new HongGuang V is a sturdy-looking
7-seater, but also available as a 2-seater or 5-seater, just as the RongGuang
V, which has also an 8-seat option. The
side middle door of the HongGuang V has a width of over 700 mm, making it more
convenient to load cargo and easier for passengers to get in and out. It is known as Chevrolet N400 as a panel van
or as a minivan, with availability in some markets of the 1.2 engine, which
only came in July 2020 in China, as well as an 8-seater, taking second place to
the RongGuang V, itself losing the 1.2 engine in April 2021.
At 4000L,
the maximum cargo volume of the HongGuang V is 300L less than that of the
RongGuang V.
By August
2021, it arrived as Chevrolet Tornado Van in Mexico.
About 95,000
HongGuang V (& RongGuang V) were sold in 2021 in China, and 13,700
HongGuang V exported as Chevrolets.
Almost 75,000 were sold in China in 2022.
Wuling
HongGuang Plus (CN150M) October 2019 –
With the
same wheelbase as the HongGuang S3, but over 10 cm wider, the HongGuang Plus
looks more solid, without the wedge shape of the S3, which as a turbo has about
the same price as the Plus. The new car adopts “2”, "2 + 2 +
3" and "2 + 3 + 3" seat layouts, followed by a “2+3” 5-seater in December 2019. The maximum cargo volume is more than 3 times
as big as for the S3. In November 2019,
one HongGuang Plus was sold against each five HongGuang S.
The
HongGuang Plus is 5 cm lower than the HongGuang V, while the tailgate threshold
height is 5 cm higher, and the maximum cargo volume is between that of the
RongGuang V and the HongGuang V. The
rigid rear axle has leaf springs for the basic models, and coil springs for the
others. In May 2020, the non-turbo
1485cc engine became available, accompanying the 1451cc turbo.
In December
2020, top versions with ESC were added.
About 25,000 HongGuang Plus were sold in 2021, and almost 12,000 in
2022.
Wuling
RongGuang EV July 2020 –
This is the
first official Wuling electric vehicle, a long-wheelbase RongGuang 7-passenger
microvan or panel van (first released in August 2011) with a 60 kW motor and a
drive range of 252 or 300 km. Almost 5,700 were sold in 2021.
Wuling
HongGuang MINI EV (E50) July 2020
–
This
four-seater New Energy Wuling was announced in March 2020 with presale from
May, resembling a "square box" Japanese (fwd) kei car, but much
shorter and with two doors, and an upper hatchback. The length is over 290 cm, the width under
150 cm, and the weight about 700 kg. The
power is 20 kW. Depending on capacity,
the NEDC battery life is corresponding to 170 km and 120 km. Charging time is
about 7 to 9 hours.
The
motor/E-axle is located at the rear and is mounted unsprung in front of the
3-link live axle on the left side. The
hatch opens halfway down.
The female-oriented
Macaron (sweet meringue-based French confection in a variety of colors),
launched in April 2021, introduced driver’s airbags (not obligatory in China)
to the MINI EV and standard independently tilting of the rear seats (an option
on other models since September 2020), and has the alloy wheels of the earlier
models replaced by cute-shaped steel wheels. The Macaron is 4,800 yuan more
expensive than the regular model, of which there is also a 4,000 yuan cheaper
basic version without air conditioning and ESC. Technically, both lines are
identical.
Raw Coconut
White and Merlot Blue "autumn colors” were added in October 2021 to the
existing Avocado Green, Lemon Yellow and White Peach Pink, all with a white
roof. An optional solid-color roof is
available.
The limited
edition Macaron Sandwich was introduced in November 2021 with five interior
customization solutions, including white peach powder, butter yellow, lemon
fruit green, raw coconut white and Merlot blue, at a 5,000 yuan higher price.
HongGuang
MINI EV has sold more than 730,000 vehicles by June 2022. The HongGuang MINI EV GAMEBOY
with the 170 km range extended to 200 or 300 km, has a 7 cm extended wheelbase
due to the larger 30 kW motor, and came in April 2022. The sheet metal differs from the base
model. The new car has launched four
themed vehicles: Hurricane Phantom, Jungle Adventure, Star Tours and Party
Sweetheart. Lime Soda and Cherry Blossom
editions were added in September 2022.
At the April
2021 Shanghai Auto Show conference, Wuling announced that the 2-seater
HongGuang MINIEV CABRIO will officially put into mass production in 2022. This one is on the extended 201 cm wheelbase,
using the paneling of the Gameboy and with the 30 kW motor, and is equipped
with two roll bars behind the headrests.
It was launched on September 25, 2022, with a range of 280 km, and
priced at 99,900 yuan, 3 times the base model.
Deliveries started late December 2022.
In November
2022, two new models were added, namely the colorful Macaron model and the
painted model, at a 3,000 yuan higher price.
The appearance of the two models adopts the two-color matching of
lavender purple + white and lemon yellow + white respectively. From the side of the body, the biggest change
is that the rim adopts a petal-style low wind resistance rim
(earlier seen on the GAMEBOY Party Sweetheart and Cherry Blossom), and the rim
also adopts a color-blocking design, which matches the style of the whole
vehicle.
Over 425,000
HongGuang MINI EVs left the factory in 2021, and over 550,000 in 2022. Retail sales in 2022 were about 405,000,
second to 420,000 Nissan Sylphy (of which an electric version e-Power will be
launched in the first quarter of 2023).
Wuling
Victory (CN220M) November 2020 –
This
6-seater (2+2+2) MPV has the same underpinnings as the Baojun RC-6, lifting
Wuling finally out of its rear-wheel-drive layout image. The two middle-row seats are equipped with a
four-way slide, the front and rear sliding distance is as long as 56 cm and
combined with the sunken folding of the third row of seats, the car is promoted
as the 4+X "big four-seater family
car". The 1.5 turbo engine was
mated to the new direct-injection 280T in February 2022.
The Victory
uses the new silver Wuling logo, which represents Wuling's high-end and global
products. In 2021, sales were 63,300,
and 22,000 in 2022.
A hybrid
version with a naturally aspirated Atkinson cycle 2-litre engine will be
launched in the first quarter of 2023.
Wuling
730 December 2020 –
This is a
Wuling-branded Baojun 730 Classic.
Online purchase started already in December 2019. Some 1,700 were sold in 2021.
Wuling
Zhengtu March 2021 -
This is a
double cab 5-seater pickup with a length of over 5 meters, sporty-styled
without reminding of a minitruck. The
engine is the 1485cc LAR 73 kW. It has a
semi-integral body, and six leaf springs at each rear wheel. Optional narrow or wide side steps are
offered. Zhengtu means 'long journey',
'expedition’. Wuling Zhengtu has sold
more than 20,000 units within three months of its launch.
Wuling
Zhengcheng (CN150V) August 2021 -
The new Zhengcheng
(Jouney) people mover features the 1.5 turbo engine, and has the body of the HongGuang
Plus extended to 515 cm, on a 318 cm wheelbase and with sliding doors, and 7
(2+2+3), 8 (2+3+3) or 9-seat (2+2+2+3) layout, the latter with a 47 cm wide
side corridor at the 2 center seat rows, next to a two-seat window-sealed
version. In 2022, 10,000 were sold.
A cheaper
commercial model with a naturally aspirated Atkinson 2-litre engine came in
September 2022. A purely electric model
with a speed of 100 km/h and 100 kW is on the way.
A previous
Zhengcheng model with the engine under the front seats was sold from December
2014 to March 2018 (and was optionally available with rear coil springs until
2016). The corridor to the 9-seat rear
bench was located between the third row of seats.
Wuling
Xingchen (Asta) (730S) September 2021 -
This first
Wuling SUV is technically based on the (front-wheel-drive) Baojun 530/560 but
with the availability of 18-inch wheels.
The transmission is a 6-speed manual or CVT gearbox. The car was officially unveiled at the April
2021 Shanghai International Auto Show and went on sale in September. This is the second model with the silver
Wuling logo. Over 2021, 54,500 were
sold, and 83,000 in 2022.
By August
2022, a hybrid model arrived with a 100 kW 2-litre Atkinson engine, and
independent rear suspension for the top model.
The electric drive motor generates 130 kW and 320 Nm. This hybrid system can drive in pure electric
mode, series (engine generates power, motor drives wheels), and parallel
(engine and motor work at the same time) according to the working conditions of
the vehicle.
Wuling
Nano EV November 2021 -
This is a 24
kW (less 5 kW) front-wheel-drive Baojun E200 clone with richer colors and
paintings. Base price of the “Free Two
Go” “Couple Car” Nano EV is 58,800 yuan (without ESC), vs 28,800 yuan for the
HongGuang MINI EV. The battery life is
305 km.
The limited
(5,000 units) version of the Nano EV [Crazy Animal City with Zootopia’s Nick
Wilde and Judy Hopps for 59,800 yuan] was jointly launched by Wuling and Disney
at the 2021 Tianjin Auto Show, which opened on September 29. Other limited edition models will be the
bilibili (Station B) and Xiaowu Xiaoling (cartoon image).
In February
2022 the 29 kW motor became available as well, after which the Baojun E200 was
deleted in March. About 9,500 units were
sold in 2022.
Wuling
Jiachen (730M) June 2022 –
The first
7-seat household MPV under the SAIC-GM-Wuling silver-label brand, was launched
on June 15. This Wuling Jiachen on a 1
cm lengthened Xiacheng wheelbase, adopts a 2+2+3 seat layout. The middle row of seats can be moved forward
and backward by 120mm, and the backrest can be folded back to 150 degrees. The starting price of the 1485cc model is
68,800 yuan vs 69,800 yuan for the Xingchen 1.5 turbo, while the price of the
Jiachen 1.5 turbo starts with 81,800 yuan.
About 50,000 left the factory in 2022, with 35,000 deliveries.
Wuling
Air ev Indonesia: September 2022,
China: December 2022
Empowered by
the Global Small Electric Vehicle (GSEV) platform, the Wuling Air ev made its
global debut in Jakarta, Indonesia on June 1, 2022, to be CKD-built in
right-hand drive, with the international market in mind. The car will be sold in India (as an MG),
Egypt and more countries around the world in the future. 300 units supported the mobility needs during
the November G20 Summit in Bali. It is the first EV model that SGMW sells
outside of China. The 4-seater is on the
2010 mm platform of the HongGuang Mini EV Gameboy, and available ranges are 200
or 300 km. Models for Indonesia have a
black roof and mirrors, while for China only the A and B-pillars are blackened
to create a suspended roof effect.
In China,
the 2-seater 30 kW model is on a 1635 mm wheelbase with a curb weight of 818
kg, while the 4-seater on the 2010 mm wheelbase features a 50 kW motor. The battery life is 300 km for each
model. The Chinese name is Qíngkōng (Clear Sky). Deliveries in China started in December 2022
(over 2,000), sales in November, while 13,500 units left the factory in
2022. Indonesia sold 6,000 units.
Wuling
Xingchi (310S) September 2022 -
This new SUV
actually succeeds on the Baojun RS-3, adopting its underpinnings and 1.5 or 1.5
turbo engine. Prices start at 56,800
yuan vs 69,800 for the RS-3. 21,000 left
the factory in 2022, with 10,000 deliveries.
Wuling
Bingo China: to be expected
March 2023
This
electric retro 5-door sedan is 4 meters long and offers a choice
of a 30 or 50 kW motor, with a drive range of 203 or 333 km respectively.
Chevrolet
Aveo (310C) Mexico: to be expected first half of 2023
Pre-production
of this hatchback started in China in August 2022 as 310C Hatchback S. It was presented in December 2022 by
Chevrolet Mexico as Aveo 2024, without revealing technical data.
GSEV
(Global Small Electric Vehicle) platform
As of August
2022, cumulative sales of SGMW cars on the GSEV (Global Small Electric Vehicle)
platform ) have exceeded one million units, since it introduced its first
electric model in 2017. In the first
half of 2022, 92% were Wuling HongGuang MINI EV (20 or 30 kW, rear-mounted
motor, live axle; prices from 32,800 yuan), 1% were Wuling
Nano EV (24 or 29 kW, 2-seater, motor in front, front-wheel-drive; prices from 56,800 yuan), and 7% were Baojun KiWi EV (40 or 50 kW,
rear-mounted motor, double wishbones; prices from 87,800 yuan. The 2-seater 30 kW and 4-seater 30 or 50 kW
Wuling Air EV with rear-mounted motor and live axle is on the way.
SAIC-GM-Wuling
In 2021,
SAIC-GM-Wuling sold 1,660,166 units in the domestic market As early as 2015, SAIC-GM-Wuling became the
first car company in China with an annual production and sales volume of over 2
million units. The sales volume has exceeded 2 million units for four
consecutive years.
The
SAIC-GM-Wuling Indonesia subsidiary was officially put into operation in 2017.
It is not only the first Chinese auto company to invest in Indonesia, but also
the first time that a Chinese auto brand has invested in equipment and resources
overseas to build its own brands and products.
In 2021, 25,650 vehicles were sold.
Liuzhou
Wuling Automobile Industry
Liuzhou
Wuling Automobile Industry Co., Ltd. (established in October 2006 by Wuling
Group, integrating its parts, engine and commercial special vehicle business
segments) has been offering since February 2020 the RongGuang
lwb based EV50 60kW electric panel van with advanced looking front, and a drive range of 245 or 300 km. In October 2020, a 5-seater (panel van) model
was added, after the SGMW-Wuling RongGuang EV
models (see above) followed in July 2020.
The BYD
V3 shares the same body with the Wuling EV50, but has a more
powerful motor of 75 kW, a 330 km drive range, and a more energy dense BYD
blade battery. Another (60 kW) variant
is the BAW Xiaohema (little hippo) with a drive
range of 270 km.
Guangxi
Automobile Group, established in May 2015, and previously known as Liuzhou
Wuling Motors Co., Ltd., together with Liuzhou Wuling Automobile Industry Co.,
Ltd., where Guangxi Automobile holds 39% of the shares, run Linxys, an MPV project of Wuling only
without any direct connection to SAIC-GM-Wuling (SGMW).
In July
2021, the Wuling Linxys V50 became available in Peru. This is a 4-seat-row 11-passenger minibus,
derived from the EV50, and with the 1485cc gasoline engine. This model is also exported as Wuling G120
with 5, 7, 9 or 11 seats, or as panel van.
Japan
On September
4, 2022, according to Guangxi Automobile Group, Wuling New Energy and Japan ASF
Co., Ltd. held the mass production contract signing ceremony of the G050 microvan project. The Japanese side pays the research and
development expenses and entrusts Wuling New Energy with the joint manufacture
and promotion of Guangxi new energy vehicles to enter the Japanese market for
the first time. It is expected to be
mass-produced and launched by the end of April 2023, and is heading towards the
goal of 100,000 vehicles in five years.
So, after
Wuling started copying the Mitsubishi Minicab Kei microvan 40 years earlier, it
will now sell its own electric Kei microvan in Japan.
With thanks to: https://www.chinacarforums.com/
7 February, 2023