China new models August 2024: Zeekr 7X and Xpeng Mona M07 launch

Zeekr 7X

Let’s now examine the latest launches on the Chinese market, based on wholesales. This month we have six new models hitting Chinese roads, all of them Chinese. To fully understand the scope of the Chinese market, make sure you consult our Exclusive Guide to all 184 active Chinese Brands.

1. Chery Tiggo 8 L (2,667 sales)

Chery is currently in great shape with sales up 39% year-on-year so far in 2024. This new model will help the brand further. As its name suggests, the Tiggo 8 L slides in the Chery range between the Tiggo 8 and 9. It was previously introduced as the Chery Fulwin T9, which has become the PHEV version of the Tiggo 8 L. It will be exported under the Tiggo 9 nameplate (confusing). It is a 4.81m long SUV (+6 cm on the Tiggo 8) with a 2.77m wheelbase (+8 cm). It is powered by a Kunpeng 2.0 L turbocharged engine, 8-speed automatic transmission and AWD intelligent four-wheel drive system. The Tiggo 8 L is available in 5- or 7-seater versions.

Priced from 129,000 to 174,900 yuan (16,400-22,200€ or US$18,200-24,600), it slots in between the Tiggo 8 Pro (126,900-166,900 yuan) and the Tiggo 9 (152,900-209,900 yuan). It will compete with the likes of the Geely Xingyue L (137,200-185,200 yuan). The Tiggo series has been a great success for Chery, and the Tiggo 8 L will build on this.

Bar for success: 4,000 monthly sales

2. Jetour Shanhai L6 (1,784 sales)

Shanhai, translating as “mountain sea”, is Jetour’s New Energy series. It currently includes the L9 and T2 so this L6 is the third vehicle in the series. Jetour sales are at record-breaking levels currently with August sales being the highest ever for the brand at 37,207 units. The L6 a compact coupe SUV at 4.63m long with a 2.72m wheelbase. It is powered by Chery’s Kunpeng super hybrid C-DM system: a 154 hp 1.5L turbocharged hybrid engine and a 201 hp electric motor, mated to a 1-speed DHT gearbox. The battery pack is ternary lithium. Official comprehensive range is 1,400 km.

Inside, alongside a 9.2-in instrument panel, there are two infotainment screen sizes available: on the entry level Pro trim it is 12.8 in and from the Max trip upwards it is 15.6 in. No physical buttons. Driver (6-way) and co-pilot (4-way) seats are adjustable and the software is managed by Huawei HiCar. Very competitively priced from 123,900 to 144,900 yuan (15,700-18,400€ or US$17,500-20,400), the L6 will compete with the likes of the Chery Fulwin T9 (129,900-169,900 yuan), Geely Galaxy L7 (125,700-169,700 yuan), BYD Song Pro New Energy (109,800-139,800 yuan) and the BYD Song L DM-i (135,800-175,800 yuan).

Bar for success: 5,000 monthly sales

3. Zhido Rainbow (1,510 sales)

After the success of its early new energy mini cars the D1, D2 and D3, Zhidou disappeared from our Exclusive Guide to all 184 active Chinese Brands, as it ceases activity. Now reborn from the dead like a phoenix, it has removed the “o” from its brand name and proposes a model mini EV. Note Geely’s CEO, Gan Jiayue, is now Zhido’s chairman. And Zhido will not stop at one model as it announced it will launch eight models in the next 3 years and 16 in the next 5 years! The Rainbow is 3-door with 4-seats and 3.22m long with a 2.10m wheelbase. There are two electric motor options: 27hp or 40hp, both paired with a lithium iron phosphate battery pack, which come in three capacities and allow a range of 125 km, 201 km or 205 km.

Inside, there is a 5-in instrument panel and a 9-in infotainment screen. Note other items included are mobile phone remote vehicle unlocking, remote car search and over the air updates, which is incredible considering its price. Indeed the Rainbow is available from 31,900 to 43,900 yuan (4,050-5,600€ or US$4,500-6,200)! At this level it will compete with the star of the segment the Wuling Hongguan MINI EV (32,800-99,900 yuan), the Geely Panda (29,900-53,900 yuan), Changan Lumin (37,900-69,900 yuan) and Bestune Xiaoma (24,900-31,900 yuan). Zhido is only returning now so we’ll be cautious regarding sales prospects.

Bar for success: 3,500 monthly sales

4. Zeekr 7X (771 sales)

The 7X, a 4.82m long compact SUV with a 2.92m wheelbase, is the fifth model of the Zeekr range after the 001 liftback, the 009 minivan, the X crossover and the 007 sedan. Note the 7X name is already used by Haima, but this doesn’t seem to be a problem at all in China. It is actually an SUV variant of the 007 and is 7.5cm longer than ist main competitor the Tesla Model Y. The 7X has European ambitions as it soon will join the 001 and X there. It will try to build on gangbuster Chinese sales: the brand is up 81.5% year-on-year over the first 8 months of the year. The brand is already present in Sweden and the Netherlands and will launch in Norway shortly, before reaching France, Belgium and Luxembourg over H1 2025. Zeekr will reportedly launch two additional crossovers next year.

The 7X is powered by the same motors as the 007 sedan, namely a 416 hp RWD and a 636 hp 4WD. It allows a 800V charging capacity and can charge 500 km of range in 15 minutes. The 7X front design is the same as the 007 sedan from which it is derived, notably including an interactive screen. Inside, there is a 13-in instrument panel and a 15-in infotainment screen. Note the rear right passenger also has a 13-in digital screen: pure luxury. Priced from 239,900 to 300,000 yuan (30,500-38,100€ or US$33,800-42,300), the 7X competes with the Tesla Model Y (249,900-354,900 yuan), Li L6 (249,800-279,800 yuan), Xpeng G9 (263,900-359,900 yuan) among others. It has received 20,000 orders in one week after pre-sales started. The 007 peaked at 5,853 sales last January and has been able to maintain itself above 3,000 monthly sales since, so we’d be looking at a similar level for the 7X.

Bar for success: 4,000 monthly sales

5. Xpeng MONA M03 (517 sales)

Mona is a new series by Xpeng that is aimed at selling cheaper models to attract a younger audience. It means Made Of New Ai. Unlike other New Energy brands such as LI, Leapmotor and NIO, Xpeng sales have experienced limited growth so far this year at +13% but -15.7% in August. The brand therefore needs new blood. The Mona 03 is a 4.78m long compact liftback hatch with a 2.81m wheelbase. Xpeng claims it has the lowest drag coefficient in the world along mass-produced BEV hatches at 0.194. It is powered by a choice of two electric motors of 190hp or 218hp, battery packs are from BYD. Ranges are 515 and 620 km.

Inside, there is no instrument panel but a large infotainment screen. The dash is minimalist with no physical buttons, reminding of Tesla. There is also the option for a rear entertainment screen. The 03 is full of tech, notably with sensors as it boasts 12 exterior cameras, 12 ultrasonic radars and 3 millimetre wavelength radars. All this for a cutthroat pricing: from 119,800 to 155,800 yuan (15,200-19,800€ or US$16,900-21,900)… The Mona 03 competes with the Tesla Model 3 (231,900-335,900 yuan) which sells for twice as much, as well as the likes of the Arcfox Alpha S5 (160,800-216,800 yuan) and BYD Qin Plus (79,800-179,800 yuan). The Mona 03 received 10,000 orders within 52 minutes of launch, and Xpeng expects 10,000 monthly sales. We find this ambitious given Xpeng as a whole sold just 11,536 units in August, but we will put it as bar for success as this is the carmaker’s wish.

Bar for success: 10,000 monthly units

6. Foton Fengjing G5 (279 sales)

August also saw the appearance in the wholesales ranking of the outdated Foton Feigning G5, priced from 85,500 to 135,800 yuan (10,900-17,200€ or US$12,000-19,100). It is available in a lot of different variants, powered by a 136 hp 2.0L engine or 144 hp 2.4L CNG, 150hp 2.0L, 160hp 2.4L and 163hp 2.0L. Competitors include the Dongfeng Honor (59,900-99,900 yuan) and JAC Refine M3 (65,800-127,900 yuan).

Bar for success: 3,000 monthly sales