SAIC-GM-Wuling Baojun Yunduo costs just $13,270, but promises 286 miles range

There's a new electric kid on the block – the Baojun Yunduo. With a starting price tag that makes even the most penny-pinching among us nod in approval, it seems SAIC-GM-Wuling is gearing up for some serious sales. Like all things electric nowadays, it's brimming with potential and plenty of promises. The Baojun Yunduo does make a stylish statement, especially for its price.

Launched with pomp and circumstance, this compact EV is the second offering from Baojun this year alone. You've got to give them credit for being ambitious. But here's where it gets intriguing. The Yunduo is poised to challenge the likes of the BYD Dolphin and Volkswagen's ID.3.

At a starting price of roughly $13,270, it certainly looks like the Yunduo aims to save consumers a decent amount of coins. There are, of course, fancier versions you can buy if you're in the mood to splurge a little, but the fact remains - Yunduo is priced to take customers away from its competitors.

Ever thought of drones and cars mingling together? Well, Baojun did. They're set to offer a version of the Yunduo equipped with the Lingxi smart driving system, a combined venture with none other than drone mogul, DJI. Be it the attractive price or the equipment levels, the brand claimed that Baojun Yunduo's orders skyrocketed past 5,000 units on its debut night. Not too shabby, right?

Yunduo's dimensions seem decent, falling in the ballpark of its competitors. It measures 169.1 inches in length, which is a tad bit more than the BYD Dolphin. But hey, a little extra room never hurt anyone. Under the proverbial hood, Baojun Yunduo hides a motor with a peak power of 100 kW and torque of 148 lb-ft. Coupled with lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries, the car promises ranges of 224 miles and 286 miles, depending on the version you opt for.

Let's zoom out a bit and take a gander at the brains behind the Baojun Yunduo. SAIC-GM-Wuling, the mastermind consortium, brings together the might of SAIC, General Motors, and Liuzhou Wuling Motors. Their headquarters lie nestled in the scenic southwestern region of China, Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang.

This joint venture has been dabbling, quite successfully, in the Global Small Electric Vehicle (GSEV) realm in China. They've thrown some impressive contenders into the ring, like the Mini EV and the KiWi EV, among others. Not just limiting themselves to EVs, they've also dipped their toes into fuel-powered SUVs and vans. It turns out that SAIC-GM-Wuling's Mini EV is among the top sellers in its segment. Moreover, in the merry month of May, Baojun graced the market with another mini EV, the Yep, priced at around RMB RMB 89,800 ($16,400).

Baojun Yunduo is making waves and turning heads, setting its sights on some pretty hefty competition. And while the future of this underdog is uncertain, one thing is for sure – the Chinese EV market just got bigger. While folks in the rest of the world are stuck with few choices, Chinese customers are overwhelmed with options.

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