अर्थ प्रणाली 
Kathmandu . Offering the lowest pricing for a fully-electric SUV in the country to date, the first units of Chinese car manufacturer Dongfeng’s Nammi 06 E1 have arrived on SA shores. Known as the Vigo in some other markets, the Nammi 06 is the third model from this brand in South Africa, joining the Box hatchback and 007 Premium sedan.
There will be two versions of this SUV available, and both will feature a 120kW front-mounted motor with 230Nm torque, enabling acceleration from standstill to 100km/h in about 7.8 seconds. The price for this vehicle starts at R499 000, which undercuts the current most-affordable fully-electric SUV – the Geely E5/EX5 – by R200 000.
The Nammi 06 E1 comes with a 44.94kWh lithium-iron phosphate battery, delivering up to 401km of range based on the Chinese testing cycle. On the more widely used WLTP standard, it offers around 300 kilometres on a single charge. It supports DC fast charging at up to 60kW, allowing the battery to charge from 30% to 80% in about 30 minutes.
The higher-spec E3 model, priced at R579 000, features a larger 51.87kWh battery. This increases the range to 471km (CLTC) or around 350km (WLTP). It also charges faster, with DC charging speeds of up to 167kW, meaning a 30% to 80% charge takes roughly 18 minutes. For AC charging, it supports up to 6.6kW.
Some of the other features of this SUV include a 12.8-inch centre infotainment display, an 8.88-inch digital instrument cluster, a six-speaker audio system, a 50W wireless phone charger, a rear-view camera and parking sensors, six airbags, including curtain airbags, automatic air conditioning, a direct tyre pressure monitoring system, leatherette seats, Hill-start assist, Electronic Stability Control, Brake Assist, Traction Control and 500 litres of boot space.
The Nammi 06 E1 is available in five colours: black, white, silver, orange, and green, so you can pick the shade that matches your aesthetic.
Dongfeng might not be the most well-known Chinese car brand in South Africa (yet), but it is one of China’s Big Four state-owned car companies. They have recently entered into a joint venture with Nissan, which should legitimise the brand in the eyes of international consumers and car snobs.
With the rising cost of petrol and diesel, there has been a renewed interest in electric vehicles worldwide, including in South Africa. While several models have hit the SA market in the last few years, this is the first one that is at this accessible price point. Owners will just need to hope that load shedding doesn’t make an unwelcome comeback.
Proof that going electric doesn’t have to cost a fortune, the Dongfeng Nammi 06 E1 SUV might just be the budget-friendly offering that South Africa’s EV scene has been waiting for.
