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Chevy Badge More Than Doubles This Chinese EVs Price

  • The Chevrolet Spark EUV is a small fully electric SUV for South America.
  • The model is essentially a rebadged version of China’s Baojun Yep Plus.
  • It shares the same specifications, but has a much higher starting price.

Update: Chevrolet has opened pre-sales for the Spark EUV in Brazil, pricing the electric vehicle at R$159,990 (approximately $28,600). That’s more than twice the cost of the identical Baojun Yep Plus sold in China. The original story continues below.

Chevrolet has found a clever (read: cost-effective) way to make the most of its SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture by rebadging one of China’s most charming EVs, the Baojun Yep Plus. This fully electric urban SUV made an unexpected debut during a special event celebrating Chevrolet’s 100th anniversary in the Brazilian market.

The new model, set to be sold in Brazil as the Chevrolet Spark EUV, is essentially a Baojun Yep Plus with a Chevy badge stuck on the grille—no other major changes to speak of. Despite sharing a name and compact proportions, the Spark EUV has absolutely nothing in common with the Spark EV, Chevrolet’s short-lived electric hatchback sold in select states in the US from 2013 to 2017 before being phased out for the Bolt.

More: 12-Year Old Chevrolet Trailblazer Receives Another Facelift In Brazil

Inside, the Spark EUV borrows the modern digital cockpit of the Baojun Yep Plus, comprising a 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster and a free-standing 12.8-inch touchscreen. It is also expected to inherit the advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) of the Chinese twin, developed by none other than drone-maker DJI.

The EV measures 3,996 mm (157.3 inches) long with a 2,560 mm (100.8 inches) wheelbase, making it Chevrolet’s smallest offering. While the Baojun lineup includes a five-door version, a three-door variant, and even a pickup concept, it’s unclear if GM plans to bring any of these alternative body styles to the Brazilian market.

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Predictably, the Spark EUV borrows its electric powertrain directly from the Chinese-spec twin. A single rear-mounted electric motor generates 101 hp (75 kW / 102 PS) and 180 Nm (133 lb-ft) of torque. The 42 kWh battery pack offers a respectable 401 km (249 miles) of range on China’s CLTC cycle. The Baojun Yep Plus is also available with 32 kWh and 54 kWh battery options, but we don’t know if those will be eventually offered in the Chevy.

More: China-Made 2024 Chevrolet Aveo Unveiled In Mexico

One would think that the most compelling aspect of this tiny off-roader is its affordability. Still, the Chevrolet Spark EUV starts at R$159,990 ($28,600) in Brazil, which is more than double the ¥93,800 ($13,000) price of the identical Baojun model. The little Chevy is also more expensive than the rival BYD Dolphin Mini (Seagull EV) which starts at R$115,800 ($20,700) in the same market.

Deliveries of the Chevrolet Spark EUV are expected to begin this summer. The model will soon joined by the larger Chevrolet Captiva EV which is based on the Wuling Starlight S from China.

Chinese Automaker’s Mexico Factory Plans Derailed By US Politics

  • The Chinese automaker had been assessing three locations in Mexico for a new factory.
  • BYD initially paused its Mexican plans last year to see the outcome of the US election.
  • The company does have a presence in South America thanks to its new plant in Brazil.

Plans for global growth rarely follow a straight line, especially when politics and international trade come into play. For BYD, one of the world’s fastest-rising automakers, a much-anticipated expansion into Mexico has been put on hold.

The reason? A mix of shifting geopolitical winds and concerns over U.S. trade policy, particularly in light of Donald Trump’s return to the White House. Still, the company isn’t slowing down entirely, and has just opened its first factory outside of Asia, located in Brazil.

Read: Major Carmaker Sued Over One Toilet Per 31 Workers And Other Horrors

As we reported last year, had been scoping out three locations in Mexico for a new factory. However, it paused its search in September to wait to see the outcome of the 2024 US presidential election, likely anticipating that a victory for Trump would likely shake up the status quo of international trade. That’s exactly what the 45th and 47th President has done.

While recently speaking at the opening of BYD’s new factory in Brazil, executive vice president Stella La said the surging automaker is rethinking its strategy.

“Geopolitical issues have a big impact on the automotive industry,” she told Bloomberg. “Now everybody is rethinking their strategy in other countries. We want to wait for more clarity before making our decision.”

BYD’s efforts to establish a base in Mexico were hampered in March, even before President Trump announced sweeping tariffs. That month, China’s commerce ministry delayed approval of the Mexican factory due to concerns the carmaker’s technology could be accessed by the US.

From Pause in Mexico to Progress in Brazil

 Chinese Automaker’s Mexico Factory Plans Derailed By US Politics

Although Mexico is no longer in play for the moment, BYD is still moving forward in the region. The company’s new facility in Camaçari, Brazil , is now operational and has room to grow. It currently produces up to 150,000 vehicles a year, with plans to double that figure to 300,000 within two years.

However, the site has not been without controversy. Late last year, Brazilian authorities reported that some international workers at the plant had been living in conditions likened to modern-day slavery.

In response, Li emphasized the company’s commitment to reform. Going forward, she said, BYD will work more closely with local partners to uphold labor and human rights standards.

“We should slow down, step back from the focus on speed,” Li said. “It will take longer, but that’s OK.”

 Chinese Automaker’s Mexico Factory Plans Derailed By US Politics

This Country Faces A Cheap EV Invasion That Could Destroy Its Auto Industry

  • BYD has already imported over 22,000 EVs into Brazil during the first five months.
  • Carmakers can currently import thousands of vehicles without paying import tariffs.
  • BYD has delayed the planned opening of its Brazilian production plant until late 2026.

Cheap plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles from China are rolling into global markets at full throttle, and Brazil is starting to feel the pressure. One of the most aggressive players in this push, BYD, is now operating an entire fleet of its own massive car-carrying ships.

While the influx of affordable new models has its supporters, a growing number of Brazilian industry experts are voicing concerns that these imported vehicles could undermine the country’s long-established auto manufacturing sector, Reuters reports.

Also: China’s Cheap EV Bargain That Might Be Watching Your Every Move

Brazil ranks as the world’s sixth-largest car market, so it’s not exactly surprising that companies like BYD are keen to carve out their share. But unlike longtime players such as Volkswagen, General Motors, and Stellantis, which have spent decades building factories and jobs across the country, BYD and other brands including GWM and Volvo are shipping in cars from overseas, bypassing local production.

Tariffs, or a lack thereof, are one of the reasons why Brazil has become so important for Chinese car brands. A decade ago, the government scrapped tariffs on imported vehicles in a bid to drive up demand for electric vehicles built overseas. It did reinstate a 10% tariff on EVs last year, but this is relatively small compared to the company-specific tariffs that Chinese brands are facing in Europe.

The Chinese Have Arrived

Chinese brands like BYD appear to be rushing to import as many vehicles into Brazil as quickly as possible. Currently, these carmakers can import up to $169 million worth of PHEVs and $226 million EVs toll-free by July 2025. Import tariffs are scheduled to increase every six months and top out at 35% in 2026. However, some are calling on the government to accelerate these tariff hikes by a year, implementing the 35% rate as soon as possible.

 This Country Faces A Cheap EV Invasion That Could Destroy Its Auto Industry

BYD has imported approximately 22,000 vehicles to Brazil during the first five months of this year, and by the end of 2025, as many as 200,000 new vehicles from China could be imported into the country, or roughly 8% of all new car sales.

Local Production

BYD has been working on building a plant in the state of Bahia, but after foreign employees were found to be working in squalor late last year, the plant’s opening has been pushed back until December 2026. Similarly, GWM has delayed its local production plans by a year.

“We support the arrival of new brands in Brazil to produce, promote the components sector, create jobs and bring new technologies,” ANFAVEA president Igor Calvet told Reuters. “But from the moment that an excess of imports causes lower investment in production in Brazil, that worries us.”

 This Country Faces A Cheap EV Invasion That Could Destroy Its Auto Industry

Chevrolet’s Latest Electric SUV Has A Secret Chinese Twin

  • The Captiva EV is based on the Chinese Wuling Starlight S but carries Chevy’s badge.
  • General Motors plans to launch the EV in Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East.
  • Expect similar specs to the Wuling Starlight S, including a 317-mile driving range.

Update: Chevrolet has released new photos of the Captiva EV in Brazil, which have been added to the gallery below.

Chevrolet is expanding its electric vehicle portfolio in more markets around the world, and its latest addition is a familiar nameplate with a new powertrain. The Captiva returns, this time as an EV, but don’t expect to see it on American roads. Instead, the new model is headed to regions like Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa.

The Captiva name was first used in the mid-2000s for a compact SUV sold in certain markets like Europe, Australia, New Zealand, as well as parts of South East Asia, where it was also branded as the Daewoo Winstorm. After the original model was axed, GM revived the Captiva with a new version based on the Baojun 530, a Chinese model. Now, the Captiva has gone full electric, and it’s based on another Chinese offering.

Read: GM’s New Wuling Sunshine Is The Swiss Army Knife Of Chinese EVs

The model in question is the Wuling Starlight S (also known as the Xing Guang S), which is currently sold in China. Recent social media posts from General Motors in Brazil reveal that much of the Wuling’s design has been carried over to the Chevy, though it’s been tweaked just enough to better fit the Bowtie badge.

At the front, the Captiva EV sports narrow LEDs and turn signals, with the main headlamps placed lower down on the fascia. Despite being an electric vehicle, it still has a large black grille, a departure from the grille-free designs we’re used to seeing in more modern EVs. The rear end, however, is almost identical to the Wuling model, with the same taillights, tailgate, and black bumper.

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The Captiva EV will be sold in markets like Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa, regions where its compact size and affordability are expected to hit the mark. Needless to say, the US remains firmly out of the picture.

More: Chevrolet’s Smallest EV Costs More Than Double Its Chinese Twin

Technical specifications for the new model have yet to be announced. However, we know that the all-electric version of the Starlight S has a claimed driving range of up to 317 miles (510 km) and can reach 62 mph (100 km/h) in 7.7 seconds. Similar specs can be expected for the Captiva EV, including the ability for the battery to be charged from 30-80% in 20 minutes.

Chevrolet said that the Captiva EV is currenting going through the final stages of homologations in the country, including “extensive series of tests and validations”. Pricing will be announced at a later date, but the official website has a form where prospective buyers can declare their interest and sign up for updates.

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