Lingbox Box mini EV coming soon in Malaysia for less than RM100,000; Copy of Daihatsu, range up to 220 km, single airbag?

Lingbox Box mini tram will come to Malaysia, via a 5-year contract guaranteed by EP Manufacturing (EPMB) to assemble and distribute mini EVs.

Known in its home country of China as the Lingbao Box, the Lingbox-branded model is a four-door electric hatchback measuring 3,584 mm long, 1,475 mm wide and 1,666 mm high with a wheelbase of 2,455 mm. The powertrain is a single electric motor that makes either 41 hp or 48 hp depending on specs.

Power comes from a 19.2 kWh LFP (lithium iron phosphate) battery that provides the 220 km claimed range in the China-specific CLTC test cycle – roughly equivalent to NEDC – and DC fast charging will bring 20-80% charge again in 1.2 hours. Meanwhile, the home wall box charger will charge the Box in 11 hours.

The interior of the Box has two digital displays; The driver has a 7-inch dashboard, while infotainment is displayed via a 10.1-inch unit in the center console. Although the Box can accommodate two rows of seats, there is only one airbag for the Chinese market car, leaving other occupants in the car without; hope this will be upgraded before coming to Malaysia market.

If you feel like you’ve seen a car that looks a lot like this one, chances are you’ve seen one; The box bears a significant resemblance to Daihatsu Cast kei-classes from 2015, both feature tall round headlights, along with similar sculptures of wheel arches and door crease lines.

Daihatsu display Sport variant its kei cars at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show, and a Adventure SUV version of Cast Activa at GIIAS 2016.

Priced at 56,800 yuan (RM36,015) in China including government incentives, it remains to be seen how much the Lingbox will cost when it arrives in Malaysia. According to EPMB, the cars sold in Malaysia are expected to cost less than RM100,000 and in doing so, these cars will become the most affordable electric cars in Malaysia.

For comparison, the lowest priced all-electric vehicle available in Malaysia is GWM Ora Good Cat, priced from RM139,800 in basic form. Also from China, recently launched BYD Atto 3 The electric SUV starts at RM149,800 in Standard form and goes up to RM167,800 in Extended Range form.