nowhere easier
The Kaliningrad Avtotor plant, which launched the Chinese brand Kaiyi car assembly earlier this year, has recently started producing models of its competitor. We are talking about one of the oldest car manufacturers in the Middle Kingdom – BAIC, whose plans are to bring seven models to the Russian market at once by the end of this year.
Among the first to go on sale is the BAIC U5 Plus C-Class sedan, which will be offered to Russian buyers at prices ranging from 1,699,900 rubles to 1,889,900 rubles. Under the hood of the car is a non-reciprocating 1.5-liter gasoline engine with a capacity of 113 hp, which works in combination with a 5-speed “mechanics” or a variator.
“The novelty will be able to compete with the Lada Vesta NG, but not to the full extent. While we do not know the cost of the updated Vesta, I assume that it will still be up to 1.5 million rubles. Accordingly, BAIC will offer its sedan a little more expensive to close the price gap between the higher trim levels of Vesta and the initial versions of the Kaiyi E5, production of which is also established at Avtotor, says Droma columnist Sergei Tsyganov.
In addition, according to him, it should not be forgotten that the U5 Plus will have several more competitors entering the market during 2023. For example, the new Arizzo 8 series sedan from Chery, as well as the Moskvich 6; the latter can be a bit more expensive compared to BAIC, but only at the start of sales.
“In fact, a huge void has formed in the segment of cars under 2 million rubles, because global brands have left the Russian market, and Chinese manufacturers are in no hurry to pamper us with sedans en masse. Speaking of advantages of the BAIC U5 plus, we must first take into account its dimensions: it is longer than Lada Vesta by almost 20 cm.
Most likely, due to possible corporate buyouts, the BAIC U5 plus will be more popular than the Kaiyi E5 with a turbo engine and multi-link rear axle suspension. The simple design will provide the novelty with cheaper maintenance, which will appeal to both private and corporate clients. But, of course, BAIC U5 plus may seem too “simple” to someone, and in this case, buyers will choose Kaiyi E5, “says Sergey Firsov, CEO of Expocar.
Size Matters
Photo: Yury Zubko/RG
Together with BAIC U5 Plus, the X35 compact crossover enters the Russian market – it will cost from 1 million 698 thousand 900 rubles to 2 million 139 thousand 900 rubles. Two gasoline engines are available for the model: a 1.5-liter “aspirated” (116 hp) in combination with a 5-speed manual gearbox, as well as a turbo engine of the same volume (150 hp) paired with a CVT, transmission – front only.
According to Sergey Firsov, the BAIC X35 crossover has practically no direct competitors on the Russian market. Among them, only the JAC S3 and the remnants of the Besturn X40 crossovers can be singled out, the sale of which has officially ended in Russia. In part, it can also compete with Haval Jolion, Geely Coolray and Changan CS35 Plus in the initial equipment levels. The main advantages of the X35 are its low price and compact dimensions. At the same time, small dimensions can also become the other side of the X35 medal, because most buyers in Russia, when choosing a car, also focus on size.
Cheaper than competitors?
Photo: Yury Zubko/RG
The next BAIC novelty in our country will be the BJ40 Plus convertible frame SUV: its cost will be 3 million 759 thousand 900 rubles. The model will have only one power unit in Russia – a 2-liter turbo gasoline engine with a capacity of 225 hp, working in combination with an 8-speed hydromechanical ZF automatic transmission. Four-wheel drive – part-time type, with a rigidly connected front axle. The main rival of the BAIC BJ40 in our market, obviously, will be another frame SUV from China – Tank 300.
By the end of 2023, Russian BAIC dealers will also have the X7 and X55 crossovers, the BJ60 full-size SUV, and an electric car based on the U5 plus sedan. Apparently, BAIC models can cost less than their Chinese “classmates”.
“It is very likely that the U5 Plus sedan will become the most popular in the BAIC line of cars, since the factor of corporate clients, for example, taxi services, will play a role here. A very realistic figure for the share of this model in BAIC sales is 40 -50%”, predicts Sergei Firsov.
In turn, Denis Reshetnikov, head of the dealership of the Fresh Auto car dealership network, believes that the wide range of the BAIC brand, a large number of different options even in basic trim levels and adequate prices will certainly interest motorists. Russian buyers. Especially considering that the brand’s cars will be presented in several segments at once, which will reduce the shortage of sedans and liftbacks, and may also have a positive impact on maintaining prices in these segments due to increased competition. .
