China new models June 2022: Geometry E, Beijing Mofang and Maxus Mifa 9 start

Geometry E

After exploring June 2022 Chinese wholesales, it is now time to review the all-new locally produced models for the month. This way you can stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the largest and most dynamic market in the world. This month we have six new models hitting Chinese roads, five of them Chinese, plus the Audi A7L, a stretched Audi A7 now produced locally. To thoroughly understand the dynamics at play in China, make sure you consult our Exclusive Guide to all 190 active Chinese Brands.

1. Geometry E (4,033 sales)

Geometry is a brand by Geely focused on electric cars. The E is its fourth nameplate after the A, C and EX3. After a very slow start, Geometry has delivered some strong volumes in recent months. The Geometry E is a small SUV priced from 86,800 to 103,800 yuan (12,600-15,050€ or US$12,900-15,400), a very attractive sticker which slots the vehicle below the A (126,800-207,800 yuan) and C (129,800-207,800 yuan) and above the EX3 (68,800-78,800 yuan). As for sales expectation, looking at other models in the Geometry stable, the A, launched in April 2019, is peaking right this moment in June 2022 at 4.744 units, the C launched in June 2020 and its record is 1,968 sales hit in January 2022 and the EX3 launched in November 2021 peaked at 2,010 units in January 2022 also. In this context, The E starts very strong already and we could consider it a success already but we’ll give it an extra challenge to reach 5,000 sales regular, which would send Geometry in a different sales level altogether.

Bar for success: 5,000 monthly  sales

2. Sinogold Junxing (3,740 sales)

Sinogold is a state-owned carmaker dedicated to electric vehicles based in the Shandong province. Its first nameplate was the GM3 electric six-seat copied on the Citroen C4 Spacetourer. The brand had gone off the radar for over a year and comes back with this Chery Arrizo 5 EV, the Junxing. It is priced at 159,800 yuan (23,200€ or US$23,700) which makes it a tough sell. It lands in the charts with a suspiciously high 3,740 sales, which may take into account previous months. If the nameplate can maintain itself above 2,000 monthly sales it will be good enough to call it a Sinogold revival.

Bar for success: 2,000 monthly sales

3. Beijing Mofang (1,613 sales)

Interestingly, the Beijing Mofang’s name translates as Rubik’s Cube. Beijing’s latest offering is a compact SUV with futuristic looks. Times are tough for the brand with only 5,847 sales in June placing it at #44 below EV startups such as AITO, Xpeng, Neta, LI, NIO and Leap Motor. The Mofang’s exterior design marks a clear departure from its usual SUVs which were a lot more conservative. The interior is also impressive with two digital screens including a large central  touchscreen and a modern gearbox. The Mofang is priced from 99,900 to 153,900 yuan (14,500-22,300€ or US$14,800-22,800) which puts it right in the middle of the successful SUV sandpit. It is priced similarly to the tamer Beijing X7 (104,900-149,900 yuan) and will compete with the likes of the COS Z6 (99,900-129,900 yuan), Changan UNI-T (115,900-149,900 yuan) and Changan CS75 Plus (117,900-154,899 yuan). Unlike the model’s design, we have to be quite conservative for the Mofang sales potential given the brand’s current extreme weakness. We’ll declare it a success at 3,000 monthly sales.

Bar for success: 3,000 monthly sales

4. Enovate ME5 (714 sales)

Enovate, also called Enoreve, is a brand of premium electric cars created by Zhejiang Dearcar Auto. Its first model the ME7 was designed by Hakan Saracoglu, Vice-President Design, ex-Porsche, Ford and Chery. The first batch of 1.200 ME7 was bought in 24 hours upon its presentation at the Guangzhou Auto Show in November 2018, but its deliveries timing originally slated for H2 2019 spilled into 2020. The first retail sales were reported in April 2020 and it never appeared in the wholesales ranking. The smaller ME5 was introduced in 2021 and now finally makes its first appearance with 714 sales. Given the brand’s premium flair, it is priced very attractively from 159,900 to 169,900 yuan (23,200-24,600€ or US$23,700-25,200). The ME5 will compete with the likes of the BYD Song Pro (138,800-163,800 yuan), BYD Song Plus (152,800-216,800 yuan) and to a lesser extent the Leap Motor C11 (179,800-229,800 yuan). Enovate is a newcomer in the wholesales ranking so we’ll venture a 2,000 bar for success.

Bar for success: 2,000 monthly sales

5. BMW i3 (586 sales)

Not to be confused with the European i3, the Chinese i3 is simply an electric version of the BMW 3 Series L sold there. It is priced at 349,900 yuan (50,720€ or US$51,900) and will compete with the likes of the Tesla Model 3 (290,900-367,900 yuan) and Xpeng P7 (239,900-429,900 yuan). The dashboard is however completely different from that of the 3 Series with one giant rectangular screen “a la” Mercedes. We want 2,000 sales on a regular basis to call it a success.

Bar for success: 2,000 monthly sales

6. Maxus MIFA 9 (111 sales)

SAIC Maxus’ latest entry is a large electric and luxurious MPV oddly called MIFA 9. The front bumpers give the vehicle a sportly look and the exterior design is globally well rounded which is often a difficult task for MPVs. The MIFA 9 is not cheap: it is priced from 279,900 to 419,900 yuan (40,700-61,000€ or US$41,500-62,250) but with it comes a truly lush interior space. The entire dashboard is a digital tile encompassing three separate screens. It will compete with a raft of Chinese electric MPVs that have hit the market recently or will soon, such as the upcoming Denza D9 (335,000-660,000 yuan), the Voyah Dreamer (369,900-689,900 yuan) or the Roewe iMAX8 EV (279,800-329,800 yuan). We want 2,500 sales to call the MIFA 9 a success.

Bar for success: 2,500 monthly sales