Damn Chinese Produce Leaf Lookalike! Hold On A Second ...

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

Last week, we brought you the news that the Nissan-Dongfeng joint venture will build an EV in China, that it will be ready by 2015, and that it will not be the Nissan Leaf. The Made-in-China plug-in will be offered by Nissan-Dongfeng’s “Chinese” brand, Venucia. This most likely in compliance with yet-to-be-released, but much-rumored regulations which will shower Chinese EV subsidies only on indigenous vehicles.

Barely a week after the news, there already are pictures of the future Chinese EV.

Carnewschina has pictures of EVenucia design studies that were allegedly supplied by “someone inside Venucia.” The site also opines that “the pic above clearly shows a car that loox very much like the Nissan Leaf.” Well, it does. Down to the snout in front through which the original Leaf sucks electrons.

If it is the correct picture of the EVenucia … Nothing is impossible in China.

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • Copying other products is what they do best. Albeit at a huge loss of quality. My Chinese girlfriend has the Chinese version of a Buick Regal and she REFUSES to buy a Chinese made car. (Dong Feng, Cherry, Mei Tian, etc) While she was here this summer, I got some kicks letting her drive my SRT8. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj2qrQRjLTs

  • Bertel Schmitt Bertel Schmitt on Aug 03, 2011

    Three items: - You have been in China for too long if you don't wear seat belts - NEVER tell a Chinese: "Drive how you NORMALLY drive." - How did she get a visa?

  • Calrson Fan We are already seeing multiple manufacturers steering away from EVs to Hybrids & PHEVs. Suspect the market will follow. Battery tech isn't anywhere close to where it needs to be for EV's to replace ICE's. Neither is the electrical grid or charging infrastructure. PHEV's still have the drawback that if you can't charge at home your not a potential customer. I've heard stories of people with Volts that never charge them but that's a unique kind of stupidity. If you can't or don't want to charge your PHEV then just get a hybrid.
  • AZFelix The last time I missed the Malibu was when one swerved into my lane and I had to brake hard to avoid a collision. 1 out of 5⭐️. Do not recommend.
  • 2ACL I won't miss it; it was decent at launch, but in addition to the bad packaging, GM did little to keep it relevant in the segment. I'd prefer that another domestic automaker doesn't just give up on the mainstream sedan, but unlike some of Ford's swan songs, the Malibu made an indifferent case for why they should live.
  • ToolGuy TG grows weary of purchasing gasoline. I don't care so much how or why, I am just tired of it. I still buy petroleum products, not 'boycotting oil,' but backing away from gasoline where I can. Sample size = 1.
  • Probert Maybe it's not too late for the Dodge Neon I've always dreamed of!!! To the keyboard Robin!
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