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The Roewe D5X went on sale today (May 20) priced between 119,800 and 146,800 yuan (16,550 – 20,300 USD). Billed as an A+ size class SUV it can be seen as the SUV equivalent of the Roewe D7 sedan. As such it is the first SUV equipped with Roewe’s fourth generation DMH super hybrid system, the D5X is only available as a PHEV. Four different models are available as follows:
Yesterday we brought you the launch of the IM L6 which is priced between 219,900 and 345,900 yuan (30,400 – 47,800 USD). This car however is revolutionizing handling and in the process pushing records.
Last month we reported on the IM L6 doing the moose test, also known as elk test, driverless at 71 km/h. Technically this was a fail due to a pass speed being 72 km/h and requiring the car to be fully laden – the car in the test was empty. However, any doubts about the ability of the L6 have been laid to rest by a driver who has exceeded the speed record. The actual speed will be revealed at the car’s launch event on May 13th but the teaser poster tells us that it is 85+ km/h and the record was set on April 22.
In March 2024, Chinese car sales accounted for 33% of the world’s monthly 8.15 million vehicle sales, according to Cui Dongshu, Secretary-General of the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). In the first quarter of 2024, 21.05 million vehicles have been sold worldwide, a year-on-year increase of 3%.
Pre-orders for the Roewe D5X from SAIC Group will start at the Beijing Auto Show next week. It is the first SUV equipped with the Roewe DMH super hybrid system. The D5X can be seen as an SUV version of the Roewe D7 sedan and so it is highly likely that an all-electric version will be added to the PHEV car. Also the car will likely either form the basis of a future MG model or simply be rebadged as an MG in certain markets.
The ninth generation of the VW Passat made its debut last year in Europe, exclusively available in a Variant (estate) bodystyle. However, the Chinese market has different preferences, with sedans dominating sales charts. In light of this, Volkswagen is preparing to introduce a four-door version of the Passat to join its sedan-centric lineup in China, alongside the closely-related Magotan.The upcoming model has not yet made its official debut, but its design and specifications were fully revealed in photos from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
The IM L6 will officially launch on May 13 with deliveries beginning by the end of May. Furthermore the car achieved pre-sales figures of over 10,000 within 23 hours of the opening of pre-sales earlier this month. Despite some Chinese media still claiming that the L6 is the first car to go on sale with a solid state battery we now know that the battery is not fully solid state.
In March this year, BYD continued to maintain its leading position as the bestselling brand in retail sales with 260,300 vehicles sold. Three other independent Chinese brands including Geely, Changan, and Chery made it to the top ten list.