China new models May 2024: BYD launches three models, Lynk & Co 07 starts

Lynk & Co 07

It is now time to study the latest launches on the Chinese market, based on wholesales. This month we have no less than 17 new models hitting Chinese roads, a record. 15 of them are Chinese. To fully understand the scope of the Chinese market, make sure you consult our Exclusive Guide to all 184 active Chinese Brands.

1. Lynk & Co 07 (3,011 sales)

The event is rare enough to be noticed: for once Geely’s Lynk & Co is launching a sedan, this 07, while it has got us used to SUVs. The 07 is a mid-size vehicle at 4.827m long and with a 2.843m wheelbase. The exterior design doesn’t depart from the brand’s language, notably for the headlights, and features blacked pillars as well as hidden door handles. The vehicle is a PHEV, powered by a 163ch 1.5T engine and a 160 kW electric motor combined with a 3-speed DHT gearbox. The 18.99 kWh battery is lithium iron phosphate and charges 30% to 80% in 27 minutes.

Inside, the dash is minimalistic with no physical buttons and two digital screens: a 12.3-inch instrument panel and a 15.4-inch infotainment screen. There is also a 92-inch augmented reality head up display. Notably, the rear seats get 12.6-inch detachable screens on the back of the front seats. The 07 is priced from 169,800 to 189,800 yuan (21,800-24,400€ or US$23,400-26,200) and will compete with the likes of the BYD Han (169,800-299,800 yuan) and BYD Seal (149,800-249,800 yuan). The 07 already has solid sales for its first month in market and we’d want it to grow a little higher to call it a success.

Bar for success: 5,000 monthly sales

2. Exeed Exlantix ET (2,770 sales)

Chery’s premium brand Exeed is in great shape in 2024 with sales up 87.9% over the first 5 months of the year at 25,214. This new Exlantix (or Sterra) EX can only help this trend forward. It is the second Exlantix model after the ES sedan. The EX is a mid-size SUV coming in at 4.955m long with a 3m wheelbase. The EREV variant is powered by a 156hp 1.5T engine combined with a 265hp electric motor, good for 200 km of electric range and over 2,000 km of comprehensive range. EV variants come in three options: 313, 480 or 562 hp with ranges varying from 540 to 760 km. Best charging time is 30% to 80% in just 9 minutes.

The cockpit is bare, with absolutely no buttons. It features a 10.25-inch digital instrument panel and a 15.6-inch infotainment screen. The ET is priced from 189,800 to 319,800 yuan (24,400-41,100€ or US$26,200-44,100). It will compete with such models as the Li Auto L6 (249,800-279,800 yuan), BYD Tang (179,800-269,800 yuan), Lynk & Co 08 (195,800-288,000 yuan) and AITO M7 (249,800-329,800 yuan). The Exlantix ES is a flop, peaking at 740 sales on its launch month, so the ET has already smashed that figure. To help Exeed continue in the same upwards trend we’d want the EX to close in on the 5,000 monthly units.

Bar for success: 4,500 monthly sales

3. Chery Fengyun T9 (1,547 sales)

Although sporting a new name, the Fengyun (or Fulwin) T9 is in fact the PHEV variant of the Chery Tiggo 9 launched in June 2023. It is a mid-size SUV at 4.82m long and with a 2.82m wheelbase. The only exterior design difference with the Tiggo 9 is the closed front grille. The T9 is powered by a 156hp 1.5T engine with an electric motor of either 204 or 220hp. The dash is different from the Tiggo 9 and features a 10-inch instrument panel and a 15.6-inch central screen.

The T9 is competitively priced from 129,900 to 169,900 yuan (16,700-21,800€ or US$17,900-23,400). For comparison the Tiggo 9 goes from 152,900 to 209,900 yuan, so the PHEV version costs significantly less! It will compete with the likes of the BYD Song Plus (129,800-209,800 yuan) and Geely Galaxy L7 (125,700-185,700 yuan). The other member of the Fengyun sub-brand, the A8, reached a high of 2,869 sales just this month, and we’d need a little more than that to call the T9 a success.

Bar for success: 4,000 monthly sales

4. Bestune Xiaoma (1,277 sales)

After sinking for a couple of years, Bestune sales seem to have turned the corner at +36.1% year-on-year with 33,374 sales over the first five months of this year. Presented at the Shanghai Auto Show in April 2023, the Xiaoma finally makes its entrance in the market. It’s also coming late to the battle of the mini EVs launched by the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV, now in frefall. The Xiaoma copies the boxy shape of its main competitor and is 3m long with a 1.953m wheelbase, still enough to seat 4.

The interior is simplistic as expected for its cutthroat pricing (see below) and does’t feature a central screen, only one for the instrument panel. The car is powered by a 20 kW electric motor combined with a lithium-iron phosphate battery. The Xiaoma is available for an impossibly low price: from 26,900 to 31,900 yuan (3,450-4,100€ or US$3,700-4,400) and undercuts all his rivals: the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV (32,800-99,900 yuan), Geely Panda (29,900-53,900 yuan) and Chery QQ Ice cream (29,900-46,900 yuan). Bestune’s low scores limit the Xiaoma’s potential.

Bar for success: 4,000 monthly sales

5. Dongfeng Aeolus L7 (803 sales)

The L7 is the first Aeolus PHEV SUV. It is 4.67m long with a 2.775m wheelbase. It is powered by a combination of a 154hp 1.5T engine with a 136hp electric motor. There are two lithium iron phosphate batteries available: 17 and 30.32 kWh, providing 110 and 205 km ranges. The comprehensive range is 1,400 and 1,500 km. Charging from 30% to 80% takes 26 minutes.

The dashboard is devoid of buttons and features a  10.25-inch instrument panel and a 14.6-inch control screen. The L7 is priced from 128,900 to 156,900 yuan (16,600-20,200€ or US$17,800-21,600) and competes with its homonym the Geely Galaxy L7 (125,700-185,700 yuan), the aforementioned Chery Fengyun T9 (129,900-169,900 yuan) and BYD Song Plus (129,800-209,800 yuan). In terms of sales prospects, since the disappearance of the AX7 the Aeolus sub-brand hasn’t had a proper hit and the L7 lacks distinguishing features to make it stand out from its crowded segment. We have limited hopes for the L7.

Bar for success: 3,000 monthly sales

6. BYD Sea Lion 07 (715 sales)

The most successful of a slew of new models by market leader BYD this month, the Sea Lion 07 is a compact fastback SUV coming in at 4.83m long. It has a 2.93m wheelbase. This vehicle is very similar to the recently launched BYD Song L which is just 1cm longer. It also has similar headlights to the Seal and Song Plus. The Sea Lion 07 is proposed with three different electric motors: a 231hp delivering 550 km of range, a 313hp for 610 km and a 530hp for 550 km.

It is priced from 189,800 to 239,800 yuan (24,400-30,800€ or US$26,200-33,000) compared to 189,800 to 249,800 for the Song L. Its main competitor is the Tesla Model Y (249,900-354,900 yuan) but also the likes of the Xpeng G6 (199,900-276,900 yuan). Career-wise, the Song L has peaked at 7,374 units last January but has fallen below the 5,000 bar in the last couple of months. A similar score can be expected for the Sea Lion 07.

Bar for success: 5,000 monthly sales

7. BYD Qin L (331 sales)

Far from resting on its laurels, BYD launches no less than three new models this month, although we remain at very low figures for now. It is a PHEV that inaugurates the brand’s 5th generation Dual Motor system, unveiled in conjunction with the model in late May. The car is rather imposing for its price (see below) with a 4.83m length and a 2.79m wheelbase.

The interior features the brand’s signature rotating centre screen, coming at 15.6 inch. There is also a 8.8-inch digital instrument panel. The car is powered by a 100ch 1.5L engine couple with a choice of two electric motors: 120 kW or 160 kW. Battery is 10.08 kWh or 15.874 kWh. Total range comes at a whopping 2,100 km. It is priced from 99,800 to 139,800 yuan (12,800-18,000€ or US$13,800-19,300). Notable competitors include the Chery Fengyun A8 (109,900-149,900 yuan). The Qin L is shaping up to be yet another blockbuster for BYD with 5,000 orders in 3 days.

Bar for success: 7,500 monthly sales

8. JAC Refine RF8 (331 sales)

Not much info has filtered through for this full-size MPV prolonging the Refine sub-brand. The exterior design is unusually striking and aggressive for the brand with a prominent grille. There are ICE and PHEV variants, with the latter being powered by a 163hp 1.5T engine and good for 150 km of pure EV range. The interior features the mandatory large centre control screen paired with a smaller instrument panel.

The ICE variant is priced from 169,900 to 209,900 yuan (21,800-27,000€ or US$23,400-28,900) and the PHEV from 219,900 to 259,900 yuan (28,300-33,400€ or US$30,300-35,800). Competitors include the GAC Trumpchi E8 (209,800-235,800 yuan) and Dongfeng Fengxing-Xinghai V9 (199,900-279,900 yuan).

Bar for success: 2,000 monthly sales

9. Maxus G70 (53 sales)

The Maxus G70 is a mid-size MPV coming in at 4.90m long and with a 2.96m wheelbase. It is a rare ICE launch in an EV-focused market. It is powered by a 234hp 2.0T engine coupled with a 9AT gearbox. There are 6- and 7-seat versions in 2+1+3 and 2+2+3 configurations. Note a surprising feature is the 6-seater version only having one seat in the 2nd row in order for the co-pilot seat to be rotated 180°. In terms of exterior design, the G70 sports a light strip at the front similar to that of Li Auto and Hyundai models. Another feature is the now mandatory hidden door handles.

Inside, the dash features a spectacular triple-screen digital tile encompassing the instrument panel, central control screen and passenger entertainment screen. The G70 is priced competitively from 149,800 to 204,800 yuan (19,250-26,300€ or US$20,600-28,200) and has rivals such as the Roewe iMAX8 (165,800-235,800 yuan), the GAC Trumpchi M8 (179,800-342,800 yuan) and the Hyundai Custo (169,800-218,800 yuan).

Bar for success: 1,500 monthly sales

10. Maxus Dajia 7 (49 sales)

The Dajia 7 has been on sale since August 2023 but only now appears in the sales charts. It is an all electric MPV. The exterior design is striking with a light strip at the front like the G70 but a more angular shape. The Dajia 7 is powered by a 245hp electric motor paired with battery packs of 64kWh, 77 kWh or 90 kWh. Ranges are 527 and 605 km. There is also a PHEV version with a 150hp 1.5T engine. Inside, the striking 2+1+3 configuration of the G70 is retained, with the Dajia 7 also offering a 2+2+3 configuration.

The dash also features a triple-screen layout, with each screen measuring 12.3 inches. The Dajia 7 is priced from 194,900 to 304,800 yuan (25,050-39,200€ or US$26,900-42,000) compared with 259,900 to 449,900 yuan for the larger Dajia 9. It competes with the GAC Trumpchi E8 (209,800-235,800 yuan) and Dongfeng Fengxing-Xinghai V9 (199,900-279,900 yuan).

Bar for success: 1,500 monthly units

11. BYD Seal 06 (44 sales)

The Seal 06 is the twin of the Qin L and is priced at exactly the same level. Exterior design and cockpit differ slightly but the car is based on the same platform and uses the same 5th generation Dual Motor system. It was unveiled on the same day as the Qin L and enters the same segment.

Bar for success: 5,000 monthly sales

12. Chevrolet Equinox Plus (33 sales)

This is the 4th generation Equinox, launching a full year before the US. It’s the first Equinox produced in China. The Plus is a PHEV powered by a 180hp 1.5T engine coupled with an electric motor for a 100 or 155 km of pure electric range. It is priced very competitively from 149,900 to 179,900 yuan (19,200-23,100€ or US$20,700-24,800). Chevrolet is in complete freefall at the moment with sales off -57.6% so far in 2024 so we are not expecting much for the Plus.

Bar for success: 2,000 monthly sales

13. Honda e:NP2 (33 sales)

The Honda e:NP2 is a low-roof compact SUV produced by GAC Honda. Its twin the e:NS2, produced by Donfgeng Honda, will follow in June. It is powered by a permanent magnet synchronous electric motor for 204 hp with a 68.8 kWh ternary lithium battery. The range is 545 km and the price is 159,800 yuan (20,500€ or US$22,000). For this price, the cockpit is particularly plush. The smaller e:NP1 peaked at 1,347 sales in June 2023 but has been below 200 monthly units since September last year, so we’re not harbouring high hopes for the e:NP2.

Bar for success: 1,000 monthly sales

14. Maxus Territory (17 sales)

The Territory is a luxury version of the D90 SUV, sold since November 2022 yet only making its appearance in the charts now. It is an Off-road large SUV coming in at 5.046m long with a 2.95m wheelbase. There are 6- or 7-seater versions. The Territory is powered by a 2.0T engine mated to an 8AT gearbox and part-time four-wheel drive with 10 off-road modes. The dash features a 12.3-inch central control screen. It is priced from 199,800 to 279,800 yuan (25,700-36,000€ or US$27,500-38,600) and competes with the Beijing BJ60 (239,800-285,800 yuan).

Bar for success: 1,500 monthly sales

Maxus G20

Additional first appearances this month include the Maxus G20 (originally launched in 2019) with 284 sales, the Hongqi EHS7 (the EV variant of the HS7) with 53 sales and the Kaiyi Kunlun New Energy (launched in March 2023) with 10 sales.