Suda (marque)

Suda, also known as Henan Suda EV and in short, SD EV, is a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer.

History

Suda was founded in 2010, by Li Fuhuo, an engineer from Weinan, Shaanxi, who previously founded a company producing gasoline engine parts.[1] The company is based in Sanmenxia, Henan. In May, they built a 2.6 billion yuan 100,000 unit annual production factory that was completed in August 2018.[2]

Their first production vehicle was the SA01,[3] also called the Lanse. It is powered by a 45 kWh battery that gives 107 horsepower. Its dimensions are 4046 mm/1737 mm/1606 mm, a wheelbase of 2500 mm, and a kerb weight of 1390 kg.[4]

The SD01 was Suda's second vehicle, also called the Yinse. It also has a 45 kWh and 107 horsepower. It is 4417 mm/1737 mm/1576 mm, and has a wheelbase of 2500 mm, and a weight of 1390 kg.[5] It was marketed under Yema.[6]

Controversies

The Sanmenxia city government has supported the company as part of a transition to a high-tech and renewable energy economy. The company attracted controversy, with local media calling it a 'zombie-company', as it appeared dormant for 5 years, with only some prototypes built, and eventually starting mass-production in 2019.[1] In 2015, the company failed to pay out wages to employees.[7] According to revenue numbers it was estimated that the company produced just 240 vehicles in 2019, most of them purchased by Henan government agencies and its own employees.[7]

The SA01 was exported to Germany in 2020, according to a Chinese reporter, this was just for show, as the company hadn't even made any sales to Chinese consumers yet at the time.[7][8] The SA01 has subsequently been criticized and avoided because of its bad crash test results.[9][10]

Vehicles

Suda currently has 2 production vehicles.

See also

• Landwind X6, also attracted controversy after failing European crash test
• Dial EV
• GreenWheel EV
• Qingyuan Auto