Thai distributor EV Primus announces plans to launch Wuling Air in Malaysia in 2024
CY Foong · Jul 5, 2023 10:10 AM
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Yesterday, the Wuling Air EV was launched in Thailand as the cheapest electric vehicle (EV) on sale in ASEAN with a starting price of THB 395,000 (~RM 52k). Fully imported (CBU) from Indonesia, Wuling’s Thai distributor EV Primus also announced that it is planning to expand to Malaysia and the Philippines in 2024 as reported by Autolife Thailand.
This follows an announcement by EV Primus’ CEO, Pittaya Thanadumrongsak at the micro EV’s launch in Thailand that the company plans to locally assemble (CKD) the Wuling Air and the Volt City EV in the Kingdom.
Volt City EV shown, same Thai distributor as the Wuling Air EV
The Volt City EV is a lesser-known Chinese micro EV that is based on the Hongrui Xiaohu or Little Tiger in Mandarin. It is also distributed in Thailand by EV Primus which also distributes DFSK and its Seres EV sub-brand.
A fleet of Wuling Air EVs leaving the Indonesian docks for Thailand
The first 400 units of the Thai-spec Wuling Air EV have landed from Indonesia and EV Primus aims to sell 2,000 units of the micro-EV in 2023. Though plans were announced for local assembly in the future, EV Primus has not discussed further details and any plans on assembly would require consent from Wuling Indonesia.
The Wuling Air is currently produced in 3 plants in China, Indonesia, and India with the latter being badged as the MG Comet. Indonesia is both the debut market and the production hub for right-hand drive units of the Air.
Two variants of the Wuling Air are offered in Thailand, the standard range with a 17.3 kWh battery that starts from THB 395,000 (~RM 52k) and the long range with a 26.3 kWh battery that is priced from THB 415,000 (~RM 55k).
Both variants are powered by a 41 PS/110 Nm electric motor mounted on the rear axle with the smaller battery having a 200 km range while the long range variant adds another 100 km of range. Charging via a 6.6-kW AC charger to hit a full state of charge (SoC) takes 4 hours.
Even though it looks like a simple-minded micro EV, the Air comes with 4 seats, LED headlights, a pair of 10.25-inch screens, TPMS, a reverse camera, and ESC depending on the variants.
Wuling showroom in Indonesia shown
Three years ago, Tan Chong Motor Holdings announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Wuling with plans to distribute the five-diamond brand to Malaysia and Thailand. That plan never fully materialised and all hopes of Wuling’s little EVs officially making it into the country were dashed.
Could the Wuling Air EV make its way into the country with help from our northern neighbour?
Traded advertising for a career that fits his passion for cars. Enjoys spotting cars during his free time and has a soft spot for Japanese Kei cars but drives a thirsty manual sedan.
