[dmitra]

Henan Suda Electric Vehicle Technology Co., Ltd. based in Sanmenxia, Henan became the 12th company to receive approval for their new EV manufacturing project under the new NDRC rules.

[As some of you must be aware, NDRC has been granting licenses for new electric vehicle projects under a stricter regime since 2015. Please refer to this article for details (see Crackdown section)]

Suda, backed by the Sanmenxia local government, was established for the purpose of engaging in EV production, parts production, EV research and development. In 2010 and 2011, they managed to produce (experimentally) small batches of cars resembling the Suzuki SX4. The course of the company for the next few years is not very clear.

Anyway, from 2014-15, efforts began in earnest once again to bring back some level of activity to the company: the factory was expanded, new components were developed, tie-ups with domestic and foreign tech companies were explored, and finally the company was back on track in January 2016, when production resumed. For a short history see: http://news.emao.com/news/201603/20119.html

Also see their introduction page: http://www.china-sdev.com/index.php?m=content&c=index&a=lists&catid=9

 

[dmitra]

Suda SD01

Dimensions: 4046 x 1740 x 1606 mm
Wheelbase: 2500 mm
Power: 20 kW; 40 kW peak
Torque: 180 Nm
Max. speed: 150 km/h
Range: ~260 km

(The SD01 was briefly attempted to be marketed under Yema with a 50 kW motor as the SQJ6451BEV)

 

[dmitra]

 

[dmitra]

Suda SA01

Dimensions: 4420 x 1740 x 1552 mm
Wheelbase: 2500 mm
Power: 20 kW; 40 kW peak
Torque: 180 Nm
Max. speed: 150 km/h
Range: ~260 km

 

[dmitra]

 

[dmitra]

Suda does not acquire rollers or gliders from Changan-Suzuki for production. They actually assemble the body from fabricated panels. Glimpses of the production process can be seen here:
http://www.sdjtjt.com/article_article.php?cid=10&id=423&lang=1

Facelifted models have also been revealed since 2014, but likely these are not yet produced. It is not clear if these or any new models will be made as part of the new EV project for which approval had been sought.

Image sources:
http://shop.085110.com/new-product.html
sdjtjt.com, china-sdev.com and other sites using Google Image Search

 

[dmitra]

Article on Suda: http://www.d1ev.com/50823.html
Cars are expected from the new project only in 2018. Despite some mews about production resuming in 2016, it now appears that all production had been for trial testing purposes, and attempts to sell a few cars to the taxi trade have not met with success.

Cars with new logo:

 

[dmitra]

Suda SDE7001DCFBEV

The SA01 (or whatever else it might be called now) has received type approval under Suda's own license (see the first post). Only the sedan has been approved in the current MIIT Notice. Recall that Suda had attempted to produce and sell the SD01 hatchback under Yema license once in the past.

The 2019 model sedan will come equipped with an 80 kW motor, producing twice the power of its earlier (LSEV-era) motors.

http://data.miit.gov.cn/viewCar?carId=222582#

 

[dmitra]

MIIT has published some more info on the Suda SA01 sedan. The NEV will have a range of 270 km, the source of power being a 40 kWh battery pack. According to prior published data, max. speed is 134 km/h. The 80 kW motor generates a peak torque of 240 Nm.

 

[dmitra]

Suda SDE7001BCGBEV

The SD01 hatchback too has received type approval under Suda's own license. The 2019/2020 model will come equipped with an 80 kW motor.

http://www.miit.gov.cn/datainfo/viewCar?carId=271875#

 

[dmitra]

Suda SA01

The renewed Suda SA01 was officially unveiled in June 2019. The event was, reportedly, graced by a few foreign countries' delegates (including, I am surprised to learn, a group from Kolkata!)

Line-off took place in March. Along with the Sanmenxia authorities, the project is enthusiastically supported by a large number of local establishments such as tech companies, research labs, and colleges.

http://www.sdev.com.cn/news/meiti/483.html
http://sudacar.cn/index.php?m=content&c=index&a=show&catid=20&id=484

Line-off:
http://www.sudakeji.com/index.php?m=content&c=index&a=show&catid=20&id=585

Product pages:
http://www.sdev.com.cn/car-detail/
http://sudacar.cn/index.php?m=content&c=index&a=lists&catid=9

 

[dmitra]

Re: Suda SA01

Insurance data shows that 236 units of the Suda SA01 have been registered as of November (cumulatively). Since prices have not been announced, I presume these are either institutional sales or cars registered by Suda themselves or by related organizations, the local government, or the aforementioned local research establishments.

Source: www.autoju.com

_____________________

Side note: Leap Motor has obtained 914 registrations for the S01.

 

[dmitra]

"Suda SA01BC Receives EU Certification, Accelerates China's New Energy Vehicles Towards the World":
http://www.sudakeji.com/index.php?m=content&c=index&a=show&catid=22&id=1195

...The European Union WVTA certification of SA01BC pure electric vehicle and its parts and components passed the factory acceptance and COP inspection on July 26, 2019, and the EU WVTA certification was obtained on January 29, 2020. This stems from the fact that Suda has strictly controlled the quality in all aspects from the beginning of product design, and strived for excellence, and finally reached the highest new energy vehicle industry standards.

...

The Suda SA01BC pure electric car that passed the EU WVTA certification this time is the main trolley type of Suda exported to Germany.

...

The company will focus on the first batch of export tasks to Germany this year, and initially plans to export 500 vehicles to Germany in April this year. At the same time, it will use all favorable conditions and technology to actively carry out work, and complete the export of 12,000 vehicles to Germany.

From another article:

In 2019, a total of 4 models of Suda entered the national model and promotion catalog; in 2020, they will strive to achieve SA01BC (export cars), SA01CA (sedans), SD01CA (hatchbacks), SA03XA (driving school buses), SC01XA (high-end commercial vehicles) and SV01XA (SUV) six models to enter the national model and promotion catalog.

 

[dmitra]

http://news.bitauto.com/zonghexinwen/20200420/1811428689.html

 

[Lawrence]

Details of the export ceremony can be seen at the website's news center page (新闻中心), by double clicking the latest event article:

http://sudacar.cn/

 

[dmitra]

An article by Autohome:
https://www.autohome.com.cn/news/202008/1028416.html


___________________________

Suda SA03, a version of the SA01 sedan aimed at driving training schools, has recently been approved for sale by MIIT. It carries a 24 kWh battery and has a (NEDC) range of 152 km.

___________________________

Details of the export ceremony...

HOEGH KOBE, the vessel carrying the first export batch of SA01, was in the vicinity of Germany in the last week of July and is now on its way back to Asia. So we can conclude that the cars have been unloaded, although I didn't find any report from Germany. This took much longer to reach Europe than the batches of Aiways U5 (which were actually dispatched later) because the car carrier rounded the Cape of Good Hope, sailing through vast stretches of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, and also perhaps because of COVID precautions at various ports of call. DCKD GmbH of Düsseldorf is the importer.

 

[Lawrence]

If it is true, that Suda has successfully exported to Europe, and launched its (outdated) little sedan on the European market, it would be nothing less than shocking. Considering the history of established Chinese manufacturers failed efforts to launch the Brilliance BS6, the Landwind X6, the Great Wall Peri, and others, how can it be, that this relative "nobody" can sail into Europe without interference or interruption? Whatever turns out to be the case, I'm amazed at this little company's sheer gall and gumption to have advanced this far in such a short timespan.

 

[dmitra]

There is a difference between the Suda SA01 and all the other past entrants you mentioned: the Suda is electric, and German local governments support electric, as far as I know. DCKD, I believe, is headed by person(s) of Chinese origin. I think the target group may not necessarily be the privileged elite of Europe, but small entrepreneurs or people from marginalized communities such as the immigrant taxi driver or tour guide who may be offered leases (purely my conjecture).

As far as "outdated" is concerned, well, Europeans were lapping up the Fiat Grande Punto even in its 14th year of production. Could Suzuki raise an objection? Perhaps, but then again, that vehicle (SX4) is something Suzuki stopped selling quite a while ago.

 

[dmitra]

Karmania eK1 (Iran)

Karmania Auto, previously an assembler of BYD vehicles, has announced the introduction of the Suda SA01 in Iran badged as "eK1", without notifying prices however. Karmania Auto is part of the Kerman Motor Group.

It is nice for everybody to do her bit for the good of Mother Earth, but I am not entirely convinced about the wisdom of selling an electric sedan in a country with currently one of the cheapest gas prices in the world -- and questionable charging station network (though I suppose they'll set up some points).

https://www.khodrobank.com/Reviews/21380/
http://thecar.ir/...ek1/

 

[dmitra]

Suda in Germany

Suda SA01 was presented in the town of Bottrop, near Essen:

https://www.bottrop.de/wirtschaft/aktuelles/gespraeche-mit-chinesischen-wirtschaftsvertretern.php
https://bottroper-zeitung.de/chinesischer-autobauer-praesentiert-e-autos-in-bottrop/

Official (Chinese):
https://www.sudakeji.com/index.php?m=content&c=index&a=show&catid=20&id=1290
https://www.sudakeji.com/index.php?m=content&c=index&a=show&catid=20&id=1306