General Motors-owned Chinese car maker teases electric Suzuki Jimny look-alike

A Chinese car maker owned by US auto giant General Motors has teased its upcoming off-road electric vehicle, taking aim at the popular Suzuki Jimny.

US car giant General Motors and its Chinese automotive partners are set to launch an electric off-roader in south-east Asia, with the new car adopting a familiar design.

Known as SAIC-GM-Wuling (SGMW), the joint venture was established in 2002 between General Motors and two Chinese car makers, SAIC Motor and Liuzhou Wuling Motors.

SGMW currently produces China’s cheapest and most popular electric car, the Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV – priced from 28,800 Chinese yuan ($AU6100).

Between January and April 2022, SGMW sold 95,000 Wuling Hong Guang Minis in China – 20,000 more examples than the 75,000 Tesla Model Ys delivered across the same period.

However, SGMW is set to take on the off-road lifestyle market with a new electric model, with its exterior design seemingly inspired by the Suzuki Jimny.

In a video posted to YouTube by Car News China, aspects of the unnamed electric off-roader are briefly highlighted, showing off its four-element LED headlights and unique tail-lights.

The side-profile shot shows large exterior mirrors mounted to the doors, while two smaller, unidentified objects are affixed to its front guards – potentially forming a part of the car’s semi-autonomous driving system.

The Chinese electric car’s similarities to the Suzuki Jimny don’t end there, featuring a boxy design with side steps, roof rails and off-road tyres with a reasonable amount of ground clearance.

According to Car News China, the new model will be based on the electric platform used by the Baojun KiWi – a better-equipped version of the Wuling Hong Guang Mini – although the off-road model is likely to be powered by two electric motors rather than one.

The Baojun KiWi’s single electric motor produces 40kW, with a dual-motor variant of the off-roader rumoured to develop more than 80kW – making it more powerful than the 75kW 1.5-litre petrol engine in the Suzuki Jimny.

A concept version of the model is reportedly due to be revealed at the Guangzhou Auto Show in November 2022, followed by a launch in Chinese showrooms from the first half of 2023.

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