Chinese EV Maker HiPhi Unveils New Model, the “Y” and Plans to Expand to Europe
Yesterday at the Shanghai Auto Show, Chinese EV (electric vehicle) maker HiPhi unveiled its third model: the “Y.” The HiPhi Y joins the company’s two existing models, the X and Z. But perhaps more importantly, the company announced plans to export their cars outside of China to Europe in 2023 and to the Middle East shortly thereafter. No word yet as to when (or whether) they’ll offer the cars for sale in North America.
HiPhi founder David Ding unveils the HiPhi Y at the Shanghai auto show 2023.
The company plans to open its first two European showrooms, which they call “HiPhi Hubs” in Munich, Germany and Oslo, Norway. Germany is currently the largest EV market in Europe in unit sales while Norway currently leads Europe in EV market share: fully 80% of cars sold in Norway in 2022 were BEVs (Battery Electric Vehicles). The company is also launching a global web site (HiPhi.com) to facilitate consumer interest, research and sales.
The HiPhi X (pictured) and Y offer hybrid rear doors which combine rear-opening suicide doors on the bottom with gull-wing tops for more comfortable entry and exit.
HiPhi’s existing model, the “X Super SUV” has already received European Union Individual Vehicle Approval, with approval of the HiPhi “Z Digital GT” currently pending. This approval process will pave the way for both cars to be sold in key European markets. It’s the company’s first step into markets outside of HiPhi’s home country. In China, the HiPhi X is already the best-selling luxury EV. With a starting price of around $93,000 (US) the HiPhi X sells for significantly less than the Tesla Model X, which currently starts at about $127,000 in China.
Forget cup holders, the HiPhi X comes with an optional disappearing champagne caddy with room for a bottle and glasses.
The HiPhi X Super SUV features a number of unique technologies and design features, including an intelligent automatic “handle-free” door system, which combines suicide doors and a gullwing top door in the rear seating area to make it easy to get in and out. The HiPhi Z, meanwhile, brings innovations like the “HiPhi Bot” which uses a flexible robotic arm to hold an infotainment screen with four degrees of freedom and eight-direction high-speed motion. The main screen can be rotated for landscape or portrait mode and adjusted for maximum driver visibility.
Both of the existing models, the X and Z, offer at least 600 km (372 miles) of range on a full charge. However, it’s important to note that these numbers use China’s CLTC (China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle) range rating system which is significantly more optimistic than Europe’s WLTP range figures and the United States EPA range ratings.
The HiPhi Y (center) joins the company existing models, X and Z.
Details on the upcoming Y are scarce, but we expect a significantly lower price than the X in order to support higher volume sales. The Y will offer combination doors (suicide doors on bottom, gull wing on top) similar to the HiPhi X.
The company expects to begin their first European deliveries of the X and Z in 2023 with the HiPhi Y expected to arrive in Europe before the end of 2024.
Related:
HiPhi X Tops Luxury EV Sales Charts in China
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