Skyworth Auto announced its sales target of selling 30,000 vehicles in 2022 at the Global Strategic Partnership Conference on April 27. Although this goal is not as good as the monthly sales of hot-selling models, it is no less than a life-and-death test for Skyworth Automobile, which is in a trough.
From 2019, Tianmei Automobile entered the passenger car market as a new car-making force, and in 2021, it was renamed Skyworth Automobile to take over the baton; from Tianmei ET5 to Skyworth ET5, and then electrocuted into EV6. Although the brand and model are constantly changing, skyworth Automobile's dismal market performance has always remained unchanged. Since its launch in July last year, Skyworth EV6 has sold less than 08,000 units in nine months. This report card is basically at the bottom level in the camp of new car-making forces.
Skyworth Automobile, which usually has an average monthly sales of less than 1,000, dare to shout out the sales target of quadrupling. It is certainly not a new EV6 priced at 200,000 yuan, the foundation is not good, even if there are more patches in the follow-up, it is difficult to get consumer recognition. Therefore, the burden of impacting 30,000 vehicles naturally fell on Skyworth's new medium-sized SUV - Skyworth HT-i.
Knowing that only its own strength can not set off the waves, so Skyworth Automobile specially invited BYD this time to provide off-site assistance. The effect is indeed obvious, with the title of "the first non-BYD model equipped with DM-i hybrid system", Skyworth HT-i has received unprecedented market attention since its debut.
And in order to avoid the momentum of BYD Song PLUS DM-i, deliberately in the price positioning to make a certain difference. The starting price of Song PLUS DM-i is 152,800-20.58 million yuan, while the pre-sale price range of Skyworth HT-i is 14.98-19.98 million yuan. It is expected that when it is officially listed in August, the price will further decline by 3,000-5,000 yuan.
Although it is the sharp edge of Skyworth's breakthrough, the appearance of Skyworth HT-i still retains the design style of the current Skyworth EV6 to a large extent, which is not stunning, but can be divided into attractive types. The front face shape adopts a new face, the borderless middle grid grid is integrated with the front surround, and the hollow mesh design element "bump face" Changan UNI series. Officially, this is a "gravitational wave" aesthetic, which may become a family design language in the future. If nothing else, this borderless mesh design is likely to be promoted to the standard of the new "street car" in the future.
The side and rear of the body are basically the same as the current EV, but there is some optimization in the details. In terms of size, Skyworth HT-i has a three-dimensional circumference of 4720/1908/1701mm and a wheelbase of 2800mm, which is slightly higher in length and height than the current EV. The positioning of medium-sized SUVs makes Skyworth HT-i have obvious spatial advantages in the face of compact SUVs at the same price. In addition, the 150,000-class medium-sized plug-in hybrid SUV segment is only Tiggo 8 PLUS Kunpeng e+, SAIC Maxus EUNIQ 6 and other models, the competition is not fierce, equipped with BYD DM-i hybrid Skyworth HT-i or will get better room for development.
The interior has not yet been revealed, but from the display car at the press conference site, it can be understood that the interior design of Skyworth HT-i and the current Skyworth EV6 are basically the same, with a symmetrical central control layout, and two LCD screens are still equipped on the front seat back.
Although it is known that for emerging car companies, the practice of supplying multiple models with car design templates at the same time can reduce the investment in research and development costs and shorten the cycle of new product launches. However, as a strategic model, Skyworth HT-i is almost the same as the current Skyworth EV6 in terms of interior and exterior layout and body size. In addition to failing to bring freshness to the market and consumers, the "matryoshka doll" design also makes people wonder whether Skyworth HT-i only grinds the gun after encountering BYD DM-i.
Power performance can be said to be the biggest selling point of Skyworth HT-i. This set of BYD Xiaoyun plug hybrid system has long been recognized by the market through series models such as Song and Qin. The 1.5L engine has a maximum power of 81 kW and a peak torque of 135 N·m, with a thermal efficiency of 43.04%. In terms of battery life, it has a maximum of 200km pure electric endurance and a comprehensive cruising range of 1267km, the lowest power loss fuel consumption is as low as 5.3L / 100km, and it can be replenished to 80% in 30 minutes.
In the face of bydder's ultra-long waiting period for SONG PLUS DM-i, is Skyworth HT-i with the same DM-i hybrid really the best "flat substitute"? It's hard to say. The reason why BYD's models can produce 1+1>2 effects with DM-i hybrid is because the relevant supporting technology of the vehicle is highly compatible with the hybrid system, and whether skyworth Automobile's research and development strength can match the DM-i hybrid technology that is directly "taken", and whether it can achieve performance comparable to Song PLUS DM-i, it remains to be verified.
Write at the end
The advantages and disadvantages of Skyworth HT-i are obvious, ANDD DM-i plug-and-mix allows it to have the qualification coupons for entering the hybrid market, and the more people-friendly price positioning and the spatial performance of medium-sized SUVs are also very tempting. However, the weakness of brand power, the lack of after-sales service, the uncertainty of market reputation and quality control performance, etc., are easy for consumers to retreat. Weighing the pros and cons, Skyworth HT-i seems to be difficult to make a big difference, but as long as the current impasse is loosened a little, why not be a success.
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