New cut-price Chinese electric car revealed: Cheap and cheerful answer to the GWM Ora, BYD Dolphin and Hyundai Inster launches in Europe

China’s affordable electric car offensive marches on.

Dongfeng is one of China’s largest car makers but is also one of the few that haven’t announced Australian expansion plans ... yet.

Instead, the brand is targeting Europe with a wide array of electric vehicles.

The mini Dongfeng Nammi Box is the latest vehicle from its range to launch in Europe. The name might need to be workshopped if destined for Oz but the price is right.

In Switzerland — a notoriously expensive country — the Nammi Box starts at 21,990 Swiss Francs or roughly $38,000 in Australian currency.

That places the Nammi Box right at the pointy end of the electric car pricing scale. Currently the cheapest electric cars in Australia are the soon to be replaced MG ZS EV at $34,990 drive-away and GWM Ora starting at $35,990 drive-away.

The Nammi Box is a similar size to the coming Hyundai Inster, which is shorter than a Mazda2 hatchback and thinner than a Toyota Yaris.

Price is kept down by its smallish 42kWh battery that delivers a claimed driving range of 310km. 

This is paired with a single 70kW electric motor, which should be plenty for such a small electric car.

The Nammi Box’s battery, range and power output roughly matches the cheapest Inster variant, which is likely to be priced at just less than $40,000 when it lands in Australia early next year. A more expensive and longer range Inster will also be available.

The Nammi Box follows a trend from many carmakers that are focusing on bringing smaller, more affordable electric cars to market.

Ford boss Jim Farley recently told CNBC the Blue Oval was going to introduce a US$30,000 ($45,000) electric car as it needs to make smaller EVs.

“We have to start to get back in love with smaller vehicles. It’s super important for our society and for EV adoption,” said Farley.

Volkswagen’s global boss Thomas Schafer said the brand’s promise is “electromobility for all”.

“The future is electric. In order for electromobility to become widespread, attractive vehicles are needed, especially in the entry-level segment,” said Schafer according to UK publication Autocar.

The new Nammi Box is a long way from some of Dongfeng’s other vehicles, though.

It is also launching an electric Hummer rival in Europe, dubbed the MHero 1 and it showed off a radical looking electric pick-up truck concept to put the Teslas Cybertruck to shame at this year’s Beijing motor show.

Dongfeng also makes military grade vehicles for the Chinese army.

There is no word on when or if Dongfeng will launch in Australia.