Dongfeng Box EV Launched in Malaysia – Right-Hand Drive Global Debut, 95 PS, Up to 430 km Range, Launching in October

It has been coming soonBut Dongfeng Box has finally appeared in Malaysia for an official preview. The low-cost electric car, known as the Nammi 01 in China, is making its world debut in right-hand drive form here ahead of an expected launch in October.

Box is being brought in by Central Auto Distributors (CADB), a subsidiary of the Malaysian Automobile Importers and Traders Association (Pekema). The latter, a consortium of parallel importers, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with NexV Manufacturing to CKD on-site assemblyalthough it is understood that the first cars will be fully CBU imported vehicles.

The cars you see here are pre-production prototypes, so the finishes and equipment installed are not representative of the final version. However, CADB plans to sell only the top-of-the-line model (the blue and purple units seen here) – internally known as the E3 – rather than the lower-end E2 (represented by the lime green unit) which is used only for testing.

Both are powered by a single electric motor at the front that produces 95 PS (70 kW) and 160 Nm of torque, allowing for a top speed of 140 km/h. Compared to its main rival, BYD Dolphin The standard dynamic range, Box has the same power but slightly less torque (-20 Nm).

The difference between the E2 and E3 models is the capacity of the lithium iron phosphate battery. The base model has a tiny 31.45 kWh battery pack that, even on the most optimistic CLTC cycle, only manages a range of 330 km. Thankfully, we only get the E3 with a larger 42.3 kWh battery, which does a bit better with a range of 430 km – 10 km more than the Dolphin Dynamic Standard Range.

Dongfeng doesn’t disclose the maximum DC charging input for the Box, only saying that charging the battery from 30 to 80 percent takes about 30 minutes. That’s true for both the E2 and E3, suggesting the E3 could support higher wattages to compensate for its larger capacity. The same is true for the AC charging input, which is quoted at just 3.3 kW for the E2 and 6.6 kW for the E3.

In terms of design, the cute, rounded beauty of the Box is reminiscent of smart #1especially through the wraparound windscreen design and distinctive C-pillar cutout – both of which give the car a trendy “floating roof” look. However, these are just compliments to the original rather than a complete replica (Chery, I’m looking at you), and we should note that the integration of some “premium” smart car features, such as pop-out door handles and frameless windows, is unprecedented in this segment.

The rest of the design is fairly simple, but neat touches like the three-dimensional LED headlights and taillights and the full-width front light bar help to enhance the Box’s otherwise simple appearance. The E3 rides on 17-inch, two-tone, five-spoke alloy wheels, a step up from the E2’s steel wheels with aerodynamic covers (still 17s, mind you).

The Box’s strong first impression continues inside, with a modern design and surprisingly generous use of quilted faux leather. Notable features include a decorative beltline in front of the front passenger and a floating center console that houses a Qi wireless charger, a storage box in the armrest, and additional open storage underneath. There’s even a drawer in place of a regular glovebox, although some may find it lacking in space.

In terms of on-board tech, the Box has an incredibly small five-inch digital instrument cluster, although the infotainment touchscreen is a generous 12.8 inches (sound familiar?). The interface is pretty basic (no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto yet), but the living room-style home screen with cat avatars (you can tap to stretch) and customizable inspirational quotes is very unique.

Other features include automatic climate control, frameless rearview mirror, 360-degree camera system with transparency function, 32-color ambient lighting, six speakers and touch-sensitive locking and unlocking (included). very (The activation sound is loud but thankfully can be turned off.) There are no power seats here, of course, but it’s nice that both front seats are height adjustable, although the two-spoke steering wheel still only adjusts for angle, not reach.

On the safety front, the E3 comes with a host of driver assistance features, such as autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, traffic sign recognition and parking assist. Unfortunately, the Box only comes with two airbags across the range.

There’s no word on pricing (finalized or estimated) yet, but expect the Box to cost somewhere between the Dolphin Dynamic Standard Range and Neta VAll of which are around the RM100,000 base price for a CBU EV. Alongside this car (and its CKD plans), CADB is also targeting three more EV models. The company has not yet identified those EVs, but we can probably expect models from Dongfeng’s higher-end range. Voyage trademark.

PHOTO GALLERY: Dongfeng Box E2 in Malaysia

PHOTO GALLERY: Dongfeng Box E3 in Malaysia

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