Latest news with #Geely-owned
The Citizen
4 days ago
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Riddara RD6 no longer an EV-only as new plug-in hybrid debuts
Availability to key export markets, which could include South Africa, has been approved. Known as the Radar Horizon King Kong EM-P in China, the export version will again be sold as the Riddara RD6, affixed with the EM-P nomenclature. Image: Supposed to have been shown at the Nampo Agricultural Expo in Bothaville in the Free State last month, which never happened due to apparent shipping delays, Geely-owned Radar Auto has debuted a first-time plug-in hybrid version of the Horizon bakkie in China known as the Horizon King Kong EM-P. The latter suffix also used by Great Wall Motors (GWM) for its King Kong Cannon that sits below the Poer, known locally as the P Series and after its recent facelift, P300, the Horizon King Kong EM-P appears unchanged aesthetically from the electric derivative that has been on-sale in the People's Republic since 2022. Combustion joins EV Renamed Riddara RD6 in export markets, which will soon include South Africa, the plug-in hybrid setup combines a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a 19-kWh battery pack powering two electric motors. ALSO READ: Riddara RD6 electric bakkie penned-in for Nampo showing Hooked to a three-speed Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT), the Horizon King Kong EM-P has a combined system output of 260kW/914Nm, which Radar claims will see it get from 0-100 km/h in 6.3 seconds and in 8.6 seconds with its maximum payload of 1 000 kg in the loadbin. Geely launched the Radar King Kong EM-P pickup truck in China with a starting price of 19,400 USD. To launch overseas as Riddara RD6 EM-P. 👇 May 28, 2025 Able to travel 100 km on the electric hardware alone, based on China's CLTC measurements, the Horizon King Kong EM-P has a combined range of 1 068 km when taking the petrol engine into consideration, and supports vehicle-to-load (V2L) charging of up to 3.3 kW. What has stayed the same Dimensionally, the Horizon King Kong EM-P remains unchanged from the EV with an overall length of 5 260 mm, wheelbase of 3 120 mm, height of 1 865 mm and width of 1 900 mm. A long wheelbase version will, however, also be offered with dimensions of 5 550 mm, a wheelbase of 3 310 mm and the same height and width as the conventional variant. Regardless, both bodystyles have a ground clearance of 225 mm, the same the EV. Claimed loadbin capacity is 1 200-litres, though the figure for the long wheelbase wasn't disclosed. Being all-wheel-drive from the start also means the inclusion of four off-road modes; Snow, Mud, Sand and Off-Road. Inside, the Radar Horizon King Kong EM-P differs little from the EV, bar new instruments inside the 10.2-inch cluster due to the fitting of the combustion engine. The rest of the interior's layout is otherwise identical and will most likely to feature the same assortment of specification items as the electric model. South Africa awaits Now on-sale in China in three variants priced from 139 800 yuan to 159 800 yuan, which directly converts from R346 695 and R396 293, the Radar Horizon King Kong EM-P has been approved for export markets under the Riddara RD6 EM-P moniker from later this year. At present, it remains to be seen whether local importer, Enviro Automotive, will see it fit to offer the plug-in hybrid in South Africa as an alternative to the EV. For the moment, pricing of the latter is unknown, with the only hint being Enviro's promise that it has 'implemented significant price reductions' as a means of making the RD6 a 'compelling and economically sound alternative to [its] internal combustion engine counterparts'. Originally planned for introduction this month, which subsequently became the Nampo no-show, expect more details about the electric RD6 to be announced in due course. Additional information from and NOW READ: Riddara RD6 plugged-in as South Africa's first electric bakkie
Business Times
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Business Times
Changan, Huawei and CATL's luxury EV brand Avatr to be distributed by Premium Automobiles in Singapore
[SINGAPORE] China luxury electric vehicle (EV) brand Avatr will be distributed and sold by Premium Automobiles in Singapore. Lee Hoe Lone, Premium Automobiles' managing director, told The Business Times that the brand will be officially launched in the Republic in late July or early August. The brand's first model, the Avatr 11 sport utility vehicle (SUV), will debut at the same time, with another SUV, the Avatr 07, to follow in 2025. The brand will occupy a temporary showroom at Premium Automobile's facility on 281 Alexandra Road until its permanent showroom, on the fourth level of the same facility, completes renovation. Positioned as a luxury EV brand and pitting itself against the likes of Mercedes-Benz and BMW, Avatr is the result of a partnership between major players in China's automotive, battery and technology industries. Founded in 2018, Avatr is majority-owned by China state automotive group Changan, with a minority stake held by Contemporary Amperex Technology Company Limited (CATL), the world's largest producer of EV batteries. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up China tech company Huawei does not own a stake in Avatr, but is a partner and key parts supplier in the project. It develops the Harmony operating system used in the vehicles as well as other components, including the electric motors. Like other China car brands, Avatr is seeking to boost its export numbers in the region, having debuted in Thailand and the Philippines last year. The brand said it plans to expand its presence to 50 countries and regions worldwide in 2025. Premium Automobiles, owned by businessman Hadi Tanaga, is now the representative to four China brands, including Geely-owned luxury brand Zeekr, Xpeng and Deepal – which is also a Changan brand, but targets the mainstream. Premium Automobiles was the former dealer for Audi in Singapore, but ceased that operation as the German luxury brand pivoted to direct sales. It currently provides Audi's after-sales services. Avatr is positioned in the premium EV space, a segment which now has numerous competitors in Singapore, including Tesla, Xpeng and IM Motors. Lee said that its larger, more upscale models – including the Avatr 11 – will rival luxury models such as those offered by BMW or Mercedes-Benz. The Avatr 11 is a large, luxury SUV that will compete with the BMW iX and Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV. No pricing has been revealed for the car yet, but two versions will be available: standard and long range. The smaller Avatr 07, which competes with the Tesla Model Y, will be introduced in the first quarter of 2026. Abroad, the brand offers two sedans – the Avatr 06 and Avatr 12 – though it is not clear if or when they will be available in Singapore. Avatr sold 73,606 vehicles in its home market in 2024 – a 133 per cent year-on-year increase.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Volvo Cars to cut 3,000 jobs amid restructuring
Volvo Cars is set to cut around 3,000 jobs as part of a restructuring initiative aimed at addressing high costs, slowing electric vehicle demand, and trade uncertainties. The Geely-owned automaker's decision comes as it seeks to improve its share price and boost demand by restructuring its operations and reducing expenses. The action plan, which targets cost reductions of Skr18bn ($1.9bn), will include reduction of 1,000 consultant roles mainly in Sweden, 1,200 employee positions across the company's operations around the globe including Sweden. The layoffs will account around 15% of the company's office staff globally, incurring a one-time restructuring cost of Skr1.5bn. This new structural set-up is expected to be finalised by autumn this year. Volvo Cars president and CEO Håkan Samuelsson said: "The actions announced today have been difficult decisions, but they are important steps as we build a stronger and even more resilient Volvo Cars. "The automotive industry is in the middle of a challenging period. To address this, we must improve our cash flow generation and structurally lower our costs. At the same time, we will continue to ensure the development of the talent we need for our ambitious future." Volvo Car Group recorded a record-breaking core operating profit of Skr27bn for the year 2024. The company's revenue in 2024 reached an all-time high of Skr400.2bn, while global sales reached a record 763,389 cars. Volvo Cars employed nearly 42,600 full-time employees as of December 2024. The company aims to become a fully electric car company as its fully electric car lineup is the fastest growing market segment. "Volvo Cars to cut 3,000 jobs amid restructuring" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Miami Herald
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Lotus Might Switch Out the Emira's V6 for This Monster Motor
In spite of the brand's mantra of "simplify, then add lightness" philosophy, British sports car manufacturer Lotus may have a trick up its sleeve to make its most prolific gas-powered car compliant with new, stricter vehicle emissions regulations in a key region where it sells cars. According to a new report from Autocar UK, the Colin Chapman-founded brand may turn to its new engine partners, Mercedes-AMG, to provide a new V8 powertrain that can be stuffed behind the seats of the Emira. During the company's recent earnings call, Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng said that the Geely-owned company is committed to offering a high-performance version of the Emira sports car, and that it is "currently investigating the feasibility of the V8" from AMG. If you spend a lot of time noodling around car configurators online, you would know that Lotus currently offers Emira buyers a choice between two engines that live behind the seats. The first is a 2-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder called the M139, supplied by Mercedes-AMG and used in various models, including the SL43, C43, and C63 S E Performance. The second motor is a 3.5-liter supercharged V6 sourced from Toyota, which has been used in past Lotus cars. Although Lotus claims that both engines produce upwards of 400 horsepower, the CEO felt that upgrading and boosting the power of the Toyota supercharged V6 would not be a good idea, since the antiquated unit wouldn't comply with the Euro 7 emissions rules set to take effect in 2026. Originally, Lotus intended to phase out the V6 and solely offer the AMG turbo-four. However, the sudden popularity of the six-pot in the United States, an important market for the Brits, surprised Lotus execs. "The US is an incredibly important market for us for the [Emira]," Lotus Cars Managing Director and Lotus Europe CEO Matt Windle told Autocar in a statement. It always has been. So we're looking at the market demand for the product going forward," Although he didn't confirm that a V8 was coming to the Emira, he said that the automaker is "looking at all the options" for more powerful powertrains, adding that "there are some opportunities with the current supplier of engines." He also noted that the mid-engined Emira is a "very, very competent product that we probably haven't exploited to its full potential already." If Lotus were to manage to adapt the Emira chassis to shoehorn the 4-liter AMG V8 also found in the Aston Martin Vantage and DBX, it would mark the first time in nearly 21 years that it offered a V8-powered car in its lineup. The last V8-powered Lotus was the Series 4 Espirit V8, which was sold from 1996 to 2004, powered by Lotus's own 3.5-liter twin-turbo type 918 V8. However, the inklings of a more powerful version of the Emira came during Lotus's earnings call on the suggestion of Kevin Coelho, a self-identified Lotus investor and California-based exotic car dealer, who asked if the company had any plans to make a "hardcore" Emira in the tune of Porsche's 911 GT3RS, with "a high revving V6, manual transmission, lightweight," adding, "I think that would do amazingly well here in the US market." In response, Feng spoke through an interpreter who noted that "almost 50%" of Emira sales are to US customers, adding that it is "very clear that our US consumers would prefer an engine or model with a higher horsepower and higher RPM." I got a chance to drive an Emira about a few months ago, and I found its 4-cylinder turbo AMG engine to be more than adequate as a loud, peppy powertrain that makes the 3,200-pound beast feel like a nimble beast around the course that was set up. But knowing the kind of customer that is attracted to Lotus, it should be noted that the V6 is the only engine option that can be equipped with a manual transmission option. While I would personally configure my [figurative] Emira with a DCT because I anticipate bumper-to-bumper traffic, offering the choice is the difference here. It's not just the engine, it's also the gearbox, and for American buyers with the money to buy a Lotus, that's where their hearts decide. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Polestar's revenue surges 84% in Q1 2025
Geely-owned Polestar has reported a 84% year-over-year revenue growth for the first quarter of 2025, driven by higher electric vehicle sales and an improved gross margin. The revenue climbed to $608m, a substantial rise from $330m in the same period last year. The company marked a positive gross margin of 7%, an increase from the negative margin in Q1 2024. The company's retail sales soared to 12,304 units, marking a 76.5% increase from the previous year. This surge is attributed to the strong consumer demand for Polestar's newer, higher-margin models, which comes amidst heightened competition and challenging economic conditions. Polestar CEO Michael Lohschellersaid: 'We continue to make great progress, transforming our commercial operations and taking steps to reduce our cost base. We are selling more cars, at improved margins, resulting in revenue growth of 84%, a gross margin that is now positive, at 7%, and a narrowing net loss. 'We have a strong and growing line-up of attractive cars, with an expanding network of retail partners across key markets. The geopolitical environment and market conditions are challenging, but we are on the right track and doing the right things.' Polestar's net loss showed a downward trend, decreasing by 31% to $190m from the previous year's $276m. The adjusted EBITDA loss also saw a significant improvement, with a 46% reduction to $115m from $212m year-over-year. These financial advancements indicate Polestar's strategic progress towards a more stable economic footing. In a strategic move to expand its market reach, Polestar plans to initiate operations in France by summer 2025, with Stéphane Le Guevel taking the helm as managing director. Additionally, the launch of Polestar Energy across 11 markets underscores the company's commitment to enhancing home charging solutions for its customers. It also reported a 25% decrease in CO2 emissions per car sold, as highlighted in its 2024 sustainability report. "Polestar's revenue surges 84% in Q1 2025" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
