SAIC-GM-Wuling, the second General Motors joint venture in China that manages the Wuling and Baojun brands, has been developing vehicles that have been marketed as Chevrolet models in various emerging markets around the world for more than a decade. After rebadging the Baojun 530 and 510 as the new Chevy Captiva and Groove, SGMW is currently testing an upcoming Wuling global vehicle that has just been captured bearing the Chevy logo.
Chinese spy photographers have just captured for the first time an upcoming subcompact-sized vehicle from Wuling’s new global range, bearing a very similar design language and clearly inspired by the brand’s recently launched Wuling Asta crossover (aka Xing Chen in China). However, the big news is that the first prototype of Wuling’s upcoming vehicle is wearing a Bow Tie on the steering wheel.
Notably, this upcoming vehicle from Wuling would be the first of the brand’s new Global Silver logo family of models planned to launch in international markets as a Chevrolet. Until now, only three Wuling minibuses have been rebadged under the Bow Tie brand, including the Wuling Rongguang as the Chevy N300, the Hongguang S as the Chevy Enjoy for India and the Hongguang V as the Chevy N400 and Chevy Tornado Van.
Wuling’s upcoming global vehicle bearing the Chevrolet logo is a subcompact-sized hatchback with crossover-inspired proportions and aesthetics, a formula widely used lately in the auto industry to take advantage of the high demand for SUVs. As such, the model features a high beltline that rises further at the C-pillar where it joins and shapes the rear spoiler, similar to the styling used by the Chevy Bolt EUV.
As a vehicle from Wuling’s new global range, the exterior and interior design language features elements very similar to those seen on the Asta and the brand’s upcoming compact crossover. The similarities range from the shape of the headlights and taillights to the layout of the dash with horizontal layout. In addition, the steering wheel is identical, replacing the logo with the gold Chevy Bow Tie.
This reveals SGMW’s plans to export Wuling’s next global vehicle to international markets as a future Chevy model, expanding the Chinese automaker’s strategic partnership as a car supplier to GM’s largest-volume brand in emerging markets. Wuling’s upcoming new vehicle is expected to debut later this year in China and be announced afterwards in some international markets under the Chevrolet brand.
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Comments
Most likely this is for South America where Chevy has a bigger name recognition than “Wuling”. Setting politics aside, I do think the Xing Chen is one of the nicest-looking CUVs on the market. SAIC-GM-Wuling did a great job on the styling.
Perhaps, but I’m thinking GM Wants to have an affordable EV in the $20Ks for the US. This would be huge if it is Ultium based with 220+ miles of Range and actually costs in the mid $20Ks.
Be hard to hit that price and still make a profit. Even if battery prices were cut in half, you still have a 10k$ electric motor in that thing before even adding the transaxle.
I could see GM settling on a small selection of “international” EV’s, with internationally sourced components, with assembly in different location. “The Law of Competitive Advantage” – components from different places, assembly in different places, taking into account transportation costs.
Thus, a vehicle can be assembled in Brazil (“Made in Brazil”) for the South American market, but made with largely foreign components.
I don’t think you’ll ever see a car sold in the US by GM that’s “Made in China”. I think you’ll see a car sold in the US that’s made in Mexico, Canada, or the US, made largely of imported parts.
Frankly, with an EV, the cost of assembly will be, in time, very low, and the assembly plants will be highly automated. Same with parts plants – largely automated. The largest cost in a vehicle will be raw materials, transport, and overhead (engineering, cost of plant/equipment, etc). It’s not 1957 anymore. EV’s, efficient transportation, global markets.
A vehicle “Made in China”, sold internationally as a GM car brand – this is just the start.
The Buick Envision is made in China??
Has anyone thought of the fact of battery replacement cost over a new engine swap in a car, suv, or truck. To replace a battery in a $40000.00 dollar Tesla is 20 grand. So if that’s the case then you have nothing but a giant paperweight sitting in you driveway. Will reconditioned batteries work, doubt it. Still a lot of question for the manufacturer without answers. Plus China has been buying up US companies who manufacturer car batteries. Thanks to Bidins son Hunter. I have always been a GM person, that’s going to change.
An entire battery pack for a Chevy Bolt is $12k plus labor. Similar to an ICE replacement with labor, but the battery swap is less labor.
The new Ultium packs are modular so you wouldn’t replace the entire pack for a few bad cells. You’d just replace one module. That can’t be done with a Tesla. With Tesla it’s all or nothing.
I drive a Chevrolet High Country 6.2l and I’ve had it since 2015. It’s been very dependable. I’ve always brought GM vehicles. I’m not afraid to change to electric vehicles. But I want to know more about the batteries 🔋. I’m not sure what to expect from electric vehicles. All the claims are everywhere.
Glad you have a chevy. The problem I have is why is GM inchoots with China. I do not like GMs upper echelon with what they are doing. I think electric cars would be great for inner city use because you would have charging stations. Now if they could integrate solar pannels into the car to recharge off the sun, then would have something there. I own a 2019 2500 Duramax and use it quite often around the farm, pulling trailers, my 12,000lbs tractor to the dealer when I can’t fix it, and my 22 foot deep vee fishing boat. Just skeptical.
Fed up with GM SUVs after SUVs. Where is a new Sporback? Looks like no plans to design one. Well maybe the new Equinox EV.
But to the pint of this article, this Wuling / Bajoun generic car (just another SUV) is awful.
Aside from really GM designed – China made SUV (aka, XT4, Encore, TrailBlazer, Equinox and the like) all other Bajoun-Wuling-FAW are an example of China makes more of the same focusing only in the big center 12 inch screen.
The rest is vinyl / cheap plastic seats and everywhere else, not to mention the super large 15″ (at the most 16″) wheels.
Has someone had read articles of the Bajoun 530 / Chevy Captiva out of blogs and reports in the middle east?
7 passengers? with a 1.5L engine? + luggage? Do we think it really goes?
TrailBlazer and Encore are GMs best small SUV by far, followed by the Tracker. All other generic SUVs are just that.
For me it looks very similar to a Mazada MX-30 EV from the front end and profile. Would be nice if GM came up with a low cost EV to fill in for the Chevy Spark EVs like my 2016 with more range. 2015 and 2016 Spark EVs used LG battery packs and motor and BMS manufactured in Michigan and Maryland so with GPS news they’ll be producing EV motor parts etc back in Michigan maybe we’ll eventually see more low cost EVs from GM.