From knock-off old-man's electric vehicles to industrial giant

Chapter 76 Promotion
[Brothers and sisters, welcome to Fat Brother's Car Review series of original car reviews...]

Today we're bringing you a new car review. Although it's a relatively new brand that's just entered the automotive industry, you may have already heard its story.

[This is Xingchen Automotive—the leading brand in the previous two episodes of the "Old Man's Car" review program, and the instigator of the trending topic at the Shanghai Auto Show...]

Yang Li stood at a closed-off vehicle display stand, surrounded by three high-definition cameras and professional on-site sound recording equipment.

In addition to the overhead spotlights, there is also a large fill light panel on the side.

This is quite an unusual formation.

Current car review programs are far from being "template-based and professional".

Even top car reviewers don't always have a dedicated booth and full set of equipment for the actual car in every episode.

For ordinary domestic car dealership orders, the entire evaluation process can be completed by directly shooting and producing the results at the test site, followed by a certain degree of testing and dynamic evaluation.

The actual car display stand and venue equipment in front of us were set up during the last time we photographed the Maserati Quattroporte.

But now, they're using it to film a microcar that costs less than 50,000 yuan.

The cards themselves!

Currently, Autohome is still in its growth stage and has not yet gone public. Its profits come solely from website advertising, customizing brand zones for car companies, and related recharge partnerships. Therefore, it highly values ​​customers who recharge significantly.

Can you believe it... a manufacturer that makes electric vehicles for the elderly has stopped researching elderly people and switched to making cars!

[Please don't laugh, everyone. I laughed at first too, but when I actually saw this car at the Shanghai Auto Show, I was completely shocked.]

……

[Let's start with the exterior design. No other microcar in its class can rival it. From the front fascia and headlights to the streamlined body and aerodynamic design… this is a very advanced, excellent, and stylish new energy vehicle. It's worth mentioning that this is a completely original design!]

Yang Li used the word "very" three times in a row.

Not only was he satisfied with the amount of money he spent, but he also had a certain appreciation for the car in front of him.

Putting aside the issue of topping up...

From the perspective of the automotive industry, isn't the "Starry Mini" design excellent enough?
At least in the current microcar market, they are all ugly in their own unique ways.

Even if some are not ugly, they can only be described as ordinary.

The camp on the oil-fueled side is in a slightly better position, after all, they've been around for so many years.

In contrast, consider the entry-level models of new energy vehicles.

On the one hand, there are many new and innovative forces, such as converting oil cars to electric, or simply using the appearance and structure of oil cars to create new energy vehicles, or even just copying the appearance to obtain subsidies... This phenomenon is more serious.

Perhaps due to limitations in cost, R&D cycle, and actual equipment mold-making, the exterior design of Xingchen Automotive cannot be considered outstanding in the automotive industry.

However, when placed in the category of entry-level new energy vehicles, it is made to look so stunning by a group of beautiful women.

In terms of configuration, this car is equipped with a digital instrument cluster and infotainment screen, power windows, EPS electronic power steering, and parking sensors and a rearview camera.

Then there's the powertrain, which I can only describe with one word—a performance beast!!

Yes, you heard right. This car boasts a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of just over 10 seconds, and according to my tests, it accelerates from 0 to 50 km/h in a mere 4.3 seconds. What does that mean? It's faster than most 1.5T gasoline cars on the road. Starting at traffic lights and overtaking at low speeds are both completed with incredibly smooth acceleration. The initial power delivery is very responsive and linear, and it even features an organ-style accelerator pedal, making it perfect for young people's daily commuting.

……

[Most importantly, with an entry-level price of only 42,000 yuan, it surprisingly comes standard with 400V fast charging. Can you accept that?]

[We usually describe this kind of car with such a high cost-performance ratio using only one word—a cost-performance monster!!]

[According to rumors, this brand is new to the car manufacturing industry and is reportedly cutting corners and using substandard materials, resulting in a gross profit margin of less than 5% per vehicle... truly a conscientious manufacturer.]

……

……

"Can you car reviewers go any further with your hype?" "Now even a trashy brand that makes electric cars for the elderly can enter the car manufacturing industry. If this continues, will even companies that make home appliances and mobile phones start making cars?"

"I'm really laughing."

"They're already making less than 5% gross profit per bike? That's idiotic talk of attacking the cerebellum with the brain. If there really were such bike companies in reality, I'd chew up all the keyboard caps and swallow them!"

Magic City.

In a rented room, Wang Xu finished browsing the Autohome homepage and typed away rapidly.

As an office worker who has been working in Shanghai for three years, and also a car enthusiast, my biggest hobby is browsing car forums and websites.

His favorite cars to look at are the "718 Boxster" and the "BMW Z4," which are considered "sophisticated" sports cars, and he dreams of buying one someday.

but.

For now, we can only dream about it.

Even second-hand or third-hand, he couldn't afford it with his salary.

Even if you slap yourself in the face to pretend you're something you're not.

After buying the car, he still needs to register it in Shanghai, pay for insurance every year, plus the high fuel consumption, annual depreciation costs, parking fees... He simply can't afford it.

In the past few days, he discovered that the website's layout has been dominated by a car company called "Star Auto".

Moreover, they are all recommended by top car reviewers.

After watching the video, he found it hilarious.

This kind of marketing can only fool those novices who don't know anything about cars.

In his view, all domestically produced cars priced below 200,000 yuan are garbage.

For something costing tens of thousands of yuan, can you still call a car?
The old man is just happy!
……

Moreover, this brand called Xingchen Auto seems to have originally made its fortune in the elderly electric vehicle business, and it thinks that by making two big news stories, it can gain popularity and attract attention.

And what's with this "first car for young people" nonsense?

People who buy this kind of car are mostly from low-income groups.

It's the kind of car you'd be too ashamed to drive.

Young people who care about their image, who would care about this?
In a place like Shanghai, how can a low-speed electric vehicle (LSV) even be driven?

Wang Xu scoffed and then prepared to exit the webpage.

at this time.

It's possible that the mouse was accidentally clicked, and a prominent pop-up window suddenly appeared on the webpage.

[Xingchen Auto's test drive event in Shanghai is in full swing! Come and test drive to receive a free mobile phone power bank, automatic folding umbrella, or thermos mug]

"..."

Wang Xu was taken aback.

To be honest, although he was short of a car, he had absolutely no interest in a small car that cost only tens of thousands of yuan.

Moreover, it's a new energy source.

In his eyes, today's domestically produced new energy vehicles are like early Android phones: the market is chaotic, the technology is far behind, and they are simply difficult to drive and terrible.

But then again.

……

(End of this chapter)