Geely Panda Mini Karting Edition
Geely has brought out a Panda Mini Karting Edition in China. It's a sportier, youth-focused spin on the brand's already-popular mini EV.
The Karting Edition is a compact three-door hatchback, about 3.1 metres long, built for narrow city streets and tight parking spots. Geely claims up to 210 km on a single charge (CLTC) and a top speed of 100 km/h. That's enough for daily city runs.
The real change sits under the floor. The car now runs a 17.2 kWh CATL LFP battery in place of the earlier Gotion pack. DC fast charging at 22 kW takes it from 30% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Handy for a quick top-up between errands.
A 30 kW rear-mounted electric motor drives the rear wheels. This gives the little EV a more playful feel on the road. Inside, there's a 9.2-inch digital instrument cluster, an 8-inch touchscreen, a rear-view camera, parking sensors and two airbags.
In China, the updated Panda Mini range with the CATL battery starts at about USD 6,540, roughly Rs 8.7 lakh at current exchange rates. There's no word yet on a Nepal launch or pricing. Given its size and spec sheet, it could still end up in the conversation for Nepal's affordable EV city-car segment down the line.
Writes on vehicle pricing, taxation and the Nepali auto market from ongoing tracking of distributor price lists. Editorial policy.
