In China, there is a war for the niche of mini electric cars. BYD Seagull, Ora Cat, Wuling Bingo, Leapmotor T03… A strategy that is both national, when these small models offer affordable mobile solutions for Chinese consumers (the average salary in the country is 990 euros per month), and international, when European customers are looking for the same. The recent Citroën ë-C3 and the upcoming electric Renault 5 E-Tech, Volkswagen ID.2, Fiat Panda and Hyundai Casper vividly illustrate this new reality. But there is one of them among Chinese automakers later than others: Dongfeng. Formerly associated with Peugeot/Citroën ( DPCA ) and Renault ( DRAC ), this state-owned Chinese manufacturer produced several brands (Voyah, Mengshi, Aerolus, etc.) but few available models. This is the whole point a new Nammi brand dedicated to affordable electric models.

Nammi: Dongfeng is catching up

No, nothing to do with NAMI, the Russian automotive research center that bought the AvtoVAZ/Lada plants in Tolyatti and Izhevsk from Renault for 1 symbolic ruble and was recently ridiculed his funny electric car called Amber. Nammi with two “m”s has been around since 2020, formerly known as Wuhan New Energy Technology. so far it sold converted electric Renault K-ZEs under own brand.

Aware of its lag in the electrical sector, the company started from scratch and is launching its first 100% proprietary model this year: Nammy 01. Unveiled with much fanfare in August 2023, it went into production on January 6. His arrival in Europe It’s just a matter of months… It’s a B-segment city car with a much more sensual look than the Renault-based Nano Box. Its design no longer has anything to do with it, and for good reason: it acquires the style of Smart #1!

Affordable and very well equipped model

Aboard, it’s sophisticated, it’s chic, it’s bright, as with all new Chinese electrical products in recent months. It offers LED headlights as standard, large 12.8-inch central touch screen, an induction charger and several driver aids. With a wheelbase of 2.66m, it takes care of its passengers: the front seats fold down so you can stretch your legs out when you’re sitting in the back, and conversely, the rear seats fold down to provide boot space 945 liters.

Two batteries are offered: 31.45 kWh and 42.3 kWh, or 330 and 430 km of autonomy in the Chinese cycle (About 340 km for the last in the WLTP cycle). Nammi reports that 200 km was covered in just 8 minutes on DC! with call price 9600 euros, this new Nammi 01 is very attractive! We shouldn’t expect less than double when it goes on sale in Europe…

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