In October last year, Honda China released a new pure electric vehicle brand e:N, less than a year, this year's April 26 evening ushered in the e:N brand's first pure electric vehicle - Dongfeng Honda e: NS1 officially launched, which is seen as the opening of a new chapter in Honda's electrification business in China. In addition to Honda, Toyota and Nissan's electrification in China are also stepping up: on April 27, Nissan Aria will make its debut in China; on April 28, the toyota bZ4X will open pre-sale.
In the era of fuel vehicles, the Japanese top three (Toyota, Honda, nissan) have played at all levels. Now that the era of electrification is coming, the three have released electric vehicles based on pure electric architecture on the front and back feet, and they are all SUVs, and there is a great possibility of joining hands to fight the "turnaround battle".
Let's take a look at what kind of "killer skills" Honda e: NS1, Nissan Ariya, and Toyota bZ4X each have.
1
The "killer weapon" of the Japanese top three
The Honda e:NS1 is based on the e:N Architecture F pure electric architecture, which has a length, width and height of 4390x1790x1560mm, a wheelbase of 2610mm, and positions a small SUV.
Honda e:NS1 adopts a new "e:N Design" design language, and the interior design creates a strong sense of technology through a 15.1-inch large central control screen, digital dashboard, and streaming media rearview mirrors. Spatially, adhering to the "MM" concept, the occupant space is larger, the mechanical space is smaller, and there are up to 18 storage spaces. In terms of power, the Honda e:NS1 has a cruising range of 510km and 420km, respectively. In terms of intelligent configuration, Honda e:NS1 is equipped with Honda CONNECT 3.0 exclusive version for pure electric vehicles and Honda SENSING system.
The Toyota bZ4X is based on the e-TNGA pure electric architecture, with a length, width and height of 4690x1860x1650mm, wheelbase of 2850mm, positioning mid-size SUV.
In terms of power, toyota bZ4X will provide two power forms: front-drive and four-wheel drive. The maximum power of the front-drive version motor is 150kW, 0-100km/h acceleration is 8.4s, the maximum power of the four-wheel drive version before and after the motor is 80kW, 0-100km/h acceleration is 7.7s, and the WLTC comprehensive endurance is 500km. In terms of intelligent configuration, Toyota bZ4X will be equipped with a new "TOYOTA Safety Sense Safety Assist Kit" to support more than 10 intelligent driving assistance functions.
Nissan Ariya is based on the CMF-EV pure electric architecture, with a length, width and height of 4603x1900x1654mm, wheelbase of 2775mm, and positioning compact SUV.
Nissan Aria adopts the V-Motion 3.0 family front face design, but the closed grille and exaggerated headlight shape make it a clear difference from fuel vehicles. Nissan Ariya has two different power versions, the single-motor version has a maximum power of 178 kW, and the dual-motor version is equipped with a maximum power of 160 kW at the front and rear. In terms of intelligent configuration, with reference to overseas models, Nissan Ariya will be equipped with ProPILOT 2.0 intelligent control pilot and Nissan Safety Shield active safety.
2
Volkswagen ID. made a not-so-good start
After reading the latest electrification products of the Japanese top three (Toyota, Honda, and Nissan), we found that they are not the same level, perhaps deliberately to avoid the Japanese brand "inner roll". However, even if they are not "rolled inside", the road ahead is full of thorns. Because in the eyes of many people in the industry, the electrification of Toyota, Honda and Nissan has come too late.
Although China is currently the world's largest market for electric vehicles, the pattern seems to be fixed. This cake was basically divided by by BYD, GAC E-an led independent brand, the new forces represented by "Wei Xiaoli" and Tesla.
But what about reality? According to the data, the cumulative sales of the Volkswagen ID. series in China in 2021 were 70,600 vehicles, compared with the ideal of the worst sales in 2021 in "Wei Xiaoli", there is a gap of nearly 20,000 vehicles. Compared with BYD's 320,000 and Tesla's 472,000 electric vehicle sales in 2021, the difference is even farther.
There is a saying that the Honda e: NS1, Nissan Ariya, Toyota bZ4X three models have not shown the strength to "change their lives against the sky". In the face of independent brands, their configuration, price, and endurance have no advantages; in the face of new forces, their "three electricity" and intelligence are also in a state of following. Can the advantages of the original fuel vehicle field support their dreams of electric vehicles?
3
The market structure may change, will the mainstream electric vehicles turn over?
Will the Japanese top three repeat the difficulties of volkswagen ID. or will they join forces to fight a "turnaround battle"?
According to the sales data of the first quarter, the cumulative market share of the top 15 retail sales of new energy passenger cars has accounted for 82.5%, while the shortlisted joint venture brands are only SAIC Volkswagen, and saic-Volkswagen new energy market share accounts for only 1.8%. In contrast, mainstream joint venture car companies such as FAW-Volkswagen, Dongfeng Nissan and Guangqi Honda have not entered the TOP15.
A large part of this is due to the small number of new energy models of the joint venture brand. According to the terminal sales data compiled by the Gaz Automobile Research Institute, there are 326 new energy models on sale in the market in the first quarter, of which only 64 are joint venture brand new energy models. This seems to be the exact opposite of the current situation of fuel vehicles.
At present, in the domestic new energy market, more than 300,000 high-end markets are occupied by new forces, and the market below 150,000 is occupied by low-end traditional independent brands, showing a dumbbell structure with large middle and small at both ends. In the view of Cui Dongshu, secretary general of the Association, the current independent brand has seized the "loophole" in the new energy market. However, with the market penetration rate of new energy vehicles exceeding 20%, many people are predicting that the market in the range of 150,000 to 250,000 yuan will usher in a period of rapid growth in the future.
Now, with the arrival of new products of the Japanese top three, coupled with the products that Volkswagen and Ford have already listed, and the upcoming GM, a new market structure restructuring war is about to start.