Dongfeng launches low-cost Nammi Box EV in Europe

The Chinese car manufacturer Dongfeng Motor launched a new low-cost EV in Europe. Starting at around €23,000, the Dongfeng Nammi Box EV is one of the cheapest EVs in Europe at the moment.

Dongfeng is one of China’s oldest and largest automakers. It was the second state-owned auto brand established following FAW. Dongfeng builds Nissan and Stellantis vehicles in China. In the past decades, it had a long relationship with PSA (now part of Stellantis).

But now that Stellantis has turned to Chinese Leapmotor to import Chinese cars in Europe, Dongfeng has decided to go its own way and has joined a recent wave of Chinese brands expanding into overseas markets.

Switzerland first

Dongfeng will take on Europe after launching its small Nammi Box EV in Switzerland. Starting at CHF 21,990 (±€23,000), the low-cost Chinese EV is already one of Europe’s most affordable electric cars.

Dongfeng entered Europe earlier this year with its more premium brand, Voyah. Based on Dongfeng’s own S3 platform, the Nammi Box is 4.02 m long and shares a similar footprint with the Citroën ë-C3.

It has a 42.3 kWh battery and a claimed WLTP range of 310 km. Power comes from a 70 kW single motor. A smaller 31.5 kWh battery is offered in China but isn’t expected to be provided here. For comparison, the ë-C3 has a range of 320 km from a 44 kWh battery and has an 83 kW motor.

Inside, the Nammi Box is clad in diamond-stitched white (synthetic?) leather. The center of the dashboard houses a 12-inch infotainment touchscreen, and behind it is a 5-inch digital instrument panel.

A quirky design feature is the front seats’ ability to recline flat, making them useful as makeshift beds.

The Italian connection?

According to Reuters, the Chinese state-owned carmaker talks with the Italian government about creating a plant in the country. This would allow it to dodge the expensive new EU import taxes on Chinese-made EVs.

For state-owned companies like Dongfeng, these go as high as 37.6%, on top of the existing 10% import tariff. To keep its price down, the Nammi Box could be one of the first cars produced at Dongfeng’s proposed factory in Italy.

No details on a wider release of the Nammi Box have yet been revealed. However, like many other Chinese manufacturers, Dongfeng is seeking additional income from other markets as the Chinese market becomes very competitive and less predictable.