Photo: Kissun Auto
The Middle Kingdom is an intriguing place. Almost 1.4 billion souls live there, a country where the average yearly wage is 57,361 CNY, or $8,800 according to current exchange rates. So how come China has such an appetite for new cars?
2015 was the best year for new car sales in China despite an expected sales growth slowdown. Automakers sold 21.1 million passenger vehicles in the country that has the second-most millionaires in the world, which begs the question, who affords to buy a new car in China? The answer becomes clear if you consider that there is a serious gap between the upper and lower echelons of Chinese society.
Despite the fact that most of the population can barely afford a scooter, the automotive industry is flourishing in the communist country. Chinese automakers are springing up like mushrooms after rain and the newest comes in the form of Kissun Auto.
So what’s the deal with this car brand? Its name stands for “kiss the sun, kiss the future,” but things get weirder in Chinese. Written as Kunxing in Mandarin, kun symbolizes earth even though it means woman, and the character xing translates to profession. Uhm, yes, I’m confused as well. According to Kissun Auto, the name expresses that they want to offer products that make the user happy without harming the planet.
The official website of the newest car brand from China may feature an electric van, but fret not, Kissun has promised to launch its first passenger vehicle this year. More specifically, an electric compact crossover. Other electric vehicles will follow according to the company, from city cars to SUVs.
It shouldn’t surprise you that Kissun Auto is betting its two cents on EVs. After all, the EV boom in China is fueled by subsidies and the ownership control imposed in Chinese mega cities. On an ending note, the well-off people who can afford to acquire a new car in China prefer an electric vehicle because, in places such as Beijing, there’s a thing called road space rationing and electric vehicles are not subject to it.
Despite the fact that most of the population can barely afford a scooter, the automotive industry is flourishing in the communist country. Chinese automakers are springing up like mushrooms after rain and the newest comes in the form of Kissun Auto.
So what’s the deal with this car brand? Its name stands for “kiss the sun, kiss the future,” but things get weirder in Chinese. Written as Kunxing in Mandarin, kun symbolizes earth even though it means woman, and the character xing translates to profession. Uhm, yes, I’m confused as well. According to Kissun Auto, the name expresses that they want to offer products that make the user happy without harming the planet.
The official website of the newest car brand from China may feature an electric van, but fret not, Kissun has promised to launch its first passenger vehicle this year. More specifically, an electric compact crossover. Other electric vehicles will follow according to the company, from city cars to SUVs.
It shouldn’t surprise you that Kissun Auto is betting its two cents on EVs. After all, the EV boom in China is fueled by subsidies and the ownership control imposed in Chinese mega cities. On an ending note, the well-off people who can afford to acquire a new car in China prefer an electric vehicle because, in places such as Beijing, there’s a thing called road space rationing and electric vehicles are not subject to it.
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