The new Geely Panda Mini Dragon Edition looks the same as its standard counterpart, but delivers more mileage at less cost, Car News China reports. It is already on sale on its domestic market, where carmakers are engaged in increasingly fierce EV price wars.
The original Geely Panda Mini (see video) debuted in December 2022 and went into production in February 2023. It was three meters (9.84 ft.) long with a boxy exterior and four seats inside. The base trim had a single 27-PS (27-hp / 20-kW) motor driving the rear wheels and a 9.6-kWh battery rated at 120 km (75 miles) of CLTC range. The top trim came with a superior 41-PS (40-hp / 30-kW) motor and a larger 17-kWh battery for 200 km (124 miles) of range.
The top trim used to cost 56,900 Yuan (roughly $8,000) in China. The Dragon Edition that debuted this week has the same motor and battery combo, but starts as low as 39,900 Yuan ($5,600). According to Sohu Inc., this sets a historical precedent for China when a 200-km electric car goes on sale priced lower than 40,000 Yuan.