The extended-range version of the eπ007, manufactured by Dongfeng Motor Corporation in the Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone, is launched in Beijing on Aug 9. [Photo provided to en.whkfq.gov.cn]
Dongfeng eπ, a new series under Dongfeng Motor Corporation, launched its third new model – the extended-range version of the eπ007, in Beijing on Aug 9.
This follows the debut of the pure electric version of the eπ007 in March and the eπ008, a large, family-oriented, intelligent SUV, in June.
These launches exemplify the rapid transformation and upgrading of the automotive industry within the Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone (WEDZ), home to Dongfeng Motor's headquarters and a major production and R&D base for passenger vehicles. The zone has seen the launch of at least eight new energy vehicles this year.
Yu Fei, general manager of the Dongfeng eπ Marketing Division, highlighted that the newly launched extended-range version of the eπ007 offers a full fuel and electric range of up to 1,200 kilometers, allowing for a seamless journey from Wuhan to major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.
Officially unveiled in November last year, Dongfeng eπ targets the mainstream NEV market with a price range of 130,000 to 250,000 yuan ($34,823.21). This segment has traditionally been dominated by joint ventures and new automotive forces.
Leveraging Dongfeng Motor's 55 years of automotive expertise, technical accumulation, and system capabilities, Dongfeng eπ is making significant strides in both the pure electric and extended-range segments.
With the eπ007 and eπ008 models leading the charge, the brand is rapidly covering this crucial market and opening a new competitive landscape. As of the end of July, Dongfeng eπ had sold over 23,000 units.
At the same time, Dongfeng eπ is accelerating the expansion of its sales channels. In the first half of this year alone, the brand opened 310 new stores.
Dongfeng Motor has fully transitioned both segments to the NEV and intelligent connected vehicle tracks. In the first half of this year, the company saw a positive turnaround in overall operations, with significant progress in NEV development.
From January to July, Dongfeng Motor's NEV sales increased by 127.4 percent year-on-year, outperforming the automotive industry by 96.3 percentage points.
At the launch event, Zhou Zhiping, general manager of Dongfeng Motor, emphasized that Dongfeng Motor will continue to adhere to its original mission of car manufacturing, persistently promoting technological, product, and service innovations to manifest customers' automotive dreams and fulfill its corporate mission of "driving dreams with cars".
Last year, NEV production in WEDZ increased by 27.04 percent year-on-year, and in the first half of this year, NEV production and output value grew by 118 percent and 110 percent year-on-year, respectively. The zone currently has a production capacity of 1 million NEVs, forming a tripartite development pattern of independent brands, joint ventures, and new forces.
