Chinese automaker Human Horizons is gearing up to launch the HiPhi brand in select European markets.
HiPhi has made plenty of headlines in recent years for its futuristic and unique EVs, all of which are packed with an abundance of features wrapped up in very distinctive bodywork. While recently speaking with Reuters, company co-founder Mark Stanton said HiPhi will announce the European markets it is entering at the forthcoming Shanghai Auto Show, but indicated it will be in markets with higher EV penetration, such as Western Europe or Scandinavia.
“We don’t want to go out there and overextend ourselves and do too much too quickly,” Stanton said. “We’ll dip our toe in the water, then to start to build our brand.”
Read: Human Horizons HiPhi X 6-Seater Electric SUV Makes The Tesla Model X’s Falcon Doors Look Normal
Stanton didn’t reveal if the company’s X SUV or its Z sedan will be the first to launch in Europe but did say that he expects both models to receive five-star safety ratings in the Old Continent. Pricing details also remain unclear but in China, HiPhi’s models start at around 620,000 yuan or $90,000.
An announcement regarding its European plans isn’t the only thing on HiPhi’s agenda at the Shanghai Auto Show. Reuters notes that the carmaker will announce its third model at the event. This is expected to be the Y electric crossover that first emerged in February and has a slightly more conventional design. It is also tipped to be cheaper than the X and the Z but is still shaping up to have a keen focus on luxury and performance.
HiPhi’s most striking current model is perhaps the Z sedan. It features a massive 120 kWh battery pack that can be mated to either a single electric motor driving the rear wheels and good for 300 hp and 302 lb-ft (410 Nm) of torque, or with two motors delivering 600 hp and 604 lb-ft (820 Nm) of torque.
