LoginChevy’s New Electric SUV Could Be Coming to Your Country, But Not America
- 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.
Chevrolet’s EV lineup is expanding at full throttle, and after introducing electric versions of the Blazer, Equinox, and Silverado, the brand is adding another familiar name to its global roster, and this time, it’s the Captiva. However, before you get too excited, know that this is another one of those “for South America only” deals, so don’t expect it to land on U.S. shores anytime soon, if ever.
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.
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.
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.
