Having launched its local operations at the end of 2024, Chinese automaker Dongfeng has faded into almost obscurity since then.

The Citizen reports that one of China’s oldest automotive brands, with a timeline stretching back to 1969, has remained quiet since revealing the all-electric Box hatch two years ago.

Known for its joint ventures with the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, Honda, Peugeot, Citroën and previously Kia, it has since launched only one other product, the oddly named eπ 007, without any prior notice at the Kyalami Festival of Motoring last year.

Distributed by a firm called E Auto Motor, and pronounced ‘dongfong’ instead of ‘dongfeng’, information from vehicle information specialists duoporta.com lists its products as the following:

Box

Known as the Nammi 01 in China and Europe, the Box measures 4 030mm in overall length, with a wheelbase of 2 660mm, height of 1 570mm and width of 1 810mm.

Based on a platform called Quantum Architecture S3, the Box has a claimed 945 litres of boot space with the 60/40 split rear seat folded down.

Up front, the Box comes in 330 and 430 guises, which refer to its claimed ranges.

While power and torque figures are pegged at 70kW/160Nm for both, the former has a 31.4kWh battery pack and the latter a larger 42.3kWh unit.

Trim levels are E1 and E2 for the 330, and E2 and E3 for the 430. Details related to individual trim level specifications are unknown.

eπ 007

Sold as the mentioned eπ 007 in China, but simply called Dongfeng 007 in South Africa, the step-up from the Box is offered solely as an electric sedan.

Initially planned as also having a range-extending electric powertrain option similar to the Leapmotor C10 and Changan Hunter REEV, the 007 range spans three models and three powertrains.

Launched in China two years ago, the 007 has an overall length of 4 880mm, wheelbase of 2 915mm, height of 1 465mm and width of 1 895mm. Its claimed boot space is 429 litres.

Starting the range off, the entry-level 530 E1 uses a 56.8kWh battery pack powering a single rear-mounted 160kW/310Nm electric motor.

As per its name, the claimed range is 530km, with 0-100km/h taking 6.8 seconds.

Moving up to the 620 E1 brings a larger 70.3kWh battery capable of developing 200kW/320Nm. Dongfeng claims a range of 620km and 0-100km/h in 5.8 seconds.

Finally, the range-topping E2 540 uses the latter battery pack, but adds a second electric motor, thereby making it all-wheel drive.

The result is 400kW/640Nm, a range of 540 km and 0-100 km/h in 3.9 seconds.

06

Revealed last year as the SUV version of the Nammi 01/Box, the 06, or Nammi 06 in China, is offered solely as an electric five-seater.

According to carnewschina.com, the 06 measures 4 306mm in overall length, with a wheelbase of 2 715mm, height of 1 645mm and width of 1 868mm.

Providing motivation is either a 44.9kWh or 51.8kWh battery pack, both driving a single electric motor producing 135kW. The respective ranges are 401km and 471km based on China CLTC standards.

Pricing in China starts at 89 900 yuan, which amounts to R209 292 when directly converted and without taxes.

Price

Locally, prices for the Box and 007 include a five-year/150 000km warranty, a five-year/100 000km service plan and an eight-year/200 000km battery warranty across all variants.

Box

• Box E1 330 – R459 000
• Box E2 330 – R469 000
• Box E2 430 – R499 000
• Box E3 430 – R519 900

007

• 007 E1 530 – R799 000
• 007 E1 620 – R859 000
• 007 E2 540 AWD – R929 000

*The article has been amended since it was first published.

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