Dongfeng Box: This should cost NOK 189,000

Europe is in demand for cheap small electric cars. Say hello to Dongfeng Box. It comes to Norway.

It is state-owned Dongfeng that builds the nimble small car with a hint of luxury inside.

It is one of China’s largest car manufacturers, and they also collaborate with Renault and Nissan.

Together they have made some cheap car models, among other things based on the car we know as the Dacia Spring here at home – and which they call the Dongfeng Box in China.

But since January this year they have produced the more modern and cool Nammi 01.

Nammi is a sub-brand of Dongfeng. (In this case, it has the Dongfeng logo on the hood and Nammi just below and 01 on the tailgate.)

To make the confusion complete, the car will be called Dongfeng Box in Norway.

As you can see, Chinese car companies and various car brands under them are again about as unclear as the family tree of a family consisting of mine, yours, ours and the neighbours’ children.

The snark

This car is four meters long, 1.8 meters wide and 1.57 high, so it is not small. The wheelbase is a spacious 2.6 metres.

It is thus as big as the Jeep Avenger, Opel Corsa-E and Peugeot E-208, to name a few.

The design is not entirely unlike what a small Smart would look like. Quite round in shape, own color on the roof, a funny LED strip at the front as driving lights, frameless windows and actually hidden door handles.

Inside, they have added a waffle pattern and soft cover that is supposed to resemble leather.

You actually have both a small instrument screen and a larger one for multimedia. There is not a button to track here, everything goes on screen. It is cheap to build and easy to design.

You have the usual ventilation nozzles, and the glove compartment is a huge drawer.

The center console is on two floors. Lots of storage on the floor, and an easily accessible shelf to put things on. And an armrest we assume there is plenty of room under.

Mood lighting is also in place. It is amazing how quickly what was luxury a few years ago penetrates even the most affordable models.

The seats can be folded down, and voila, you and your partner can spend the night in the car. Count on both camping fashion and dog fashion.

The car has parking sensors and a camera, and must be able to park itself.

Will be cheap – also in Norway

In connection with the car fair in Beijing, the Norwegian importer Electric Way announces that they will bring in this little charmer.

They have been on a real shopping spree in China and are already importing Voyah – and have announced that they want to try their hand at M-Hero. It has already been on test rounds in Norway.

– Dongfeng Box opens up a new segment when it becomes possible for first-time buyers to start with a new car, says Lars Mabro Carlsson in Electric Way to Motor, which is in Beijing.

The importer also says that they will price the car very aggressively in Norway, even if they have to bleed.

It will thus be a completely different price range than today’s Voyah, which has sold meagerly in Norway until now, only 476 units.

Perhaps not so surprising, when the website keeps crashing when you want to check the promotional price.

Nammi 01, or Box if you like, is built in five variants and two of them come to Norway.

It costs from 78,800 to 104,800 RMB in China. This corresponds to NOK 118,000 to 157,000.

– There are still a few rounds of negotiations with the factory on the final price, but the aim is to offer the most affordable car on the Norwegian market and present it for under 200,000, says Sulland to Motor.