- The SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture has launched a new electric minivan in China.
- The Wuling Sunshine EV looks like a Japanese kei van but it is slightly larger.
- The small LCV is powered by a 40-hp electric motor and a 17.6 kWh battery pack.
China is well ahead in the EV game, and commercial vehicles are also part of the mix. SAIC-GM-Wuling has just launched the Sunshine EV, a small minivan focused on practicality and affordability.
The new model is the latest addition to Wuling’s Sunshine family of LCVs which has sold over 5.3 million units since 2002. The design of the Sunshine EV is inspired by Japanese vans, featuring a short nose, small wheels, and a tall square body with double rear sliding doors and a large tailgate.
More: GM’s Wuling Hong Guang EV Is A $10k Minivan With A Tesla Face
Designed for urban use, the new model has a very small footprint but it is still bigger than Japanese kei vans, measuring 3,685 mm (145.1 inches) long, 1,530 mm (60.2 inches) wide, and 1,750 mm (68.9 inches) tall, with a wheelbase of 2,600 mm (102.4 inches).
Inside, the cargo capacity is 527 lt (18.6 cubic feet) in its regular five-seater configuration, and can expand up to 1,117 lt (39.4 cubic feet) thanks to the flat-folding second-row seats.
The quite basic dashboard looks quite basic, betraying the budget nature of this LCV, but that doesn’t mean it skips on clever practical solutions. Wuling has added 20 expandable areas and multiple mounting holes inside the cabin, allowing it to transform according to the owner’s needs.
Compatible accessories include folding tables, cup holders, mobile phone holders, storage compartments, placement racks, and more. Earlier renderings shared by Wuling suggest that the Sunshine EV can turn into different kinds of mobile shops, a tiny camper, or a mobile toolkit for professional buyers.
The EV is powered by a single electric motor producing 40 hp (30 kW / 41 PS), which is enough for a 100 km/h (62 mph) top speed. The battery pack has a capacity of 17.6 kWh and can power external devices through front and rear plugs. It has also been reported that the EV could also become available with a larger 26.5 kWh battery, compatible with CATL’s battery swapping network.
The Wuling Sunshine EV will launch in China in early 2025, with export markets likely to follow. The company has yet to announce pricing for the EV, but Car News China speculates it could start at around ¥50,000 ($6,900)
