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According to online auto market reports, SAIC GM will upgrade its Wuhan production base. After the technical transformation, the total production capacity of the factory will remain unchanged. The main change is to reduce production of K216 to increase the production capacity of electric vehicles. According to reports, the model code-named K216 is Chevrolet's Kovos, which has an existing capacity of 180,000 vehicles per year. After increasing the capacity of electric vehicles, it will reduce production by 160,000 vehicles per year, a sharp drop of nearly 90%.

In response to the above reports, SAIC GM responded to the media by saying: "We have indeed transformed the factory. In order to increase the production capacity of electric vehicles, a small amount of production has been reduced to Kovos, but absolutely not as much as 90%. This data is inaccurate."

According to the data, Chevrolet Kovos was officially listed at the Chengdu Auto Show, which opened on September 2,2016, with an official guidance price of 799 - 109,900 yuan. In terms of power, Kovos is equipped with a 1.5L four-cylinder engine with a maximum power of 113 hp and a peak torque of 141N·m, matched with a 5-speed manual and 6-speed manual self-contained gearbox. In May 2019, the new Kovoz was launched at a price range of 899 - 99,900 yuan. In terms of power, Kovos is equipped with a 1.0T three-cylinder engine with a maximum power of 125 hp and a peak torque of 180N·m, matched with a 6-speed manual self-contained gearbox. In May 2020, two new models will be launched, both of which are also equipped with a 1.3L three-cylinder naturally aspirated engine with a maximum power of 107 hp and a peak torque of 130N·m, matching a 5-speed manual transmission.

Due to the three-cylinder engine, Kovos 'performance in the market is very low. According to the data of the Federation, the cumulative sales volume of Kovos from January to November 2021 was 18268 vehicles, compared with the previous monthly sales volume of about 2000 vehicles. However, the sales volume has shrunk seriously in recent months, with 811 vehicles sold in September, 228 vehicles sold in October and 123 vehicles sold in November respectively.

It is not difficult to see that SAIC GM's change in Kovos 'production capacity is more or less based on sales considerations. In addition to Kovoz, such as the Pioneer, Volando, Chuangku, Changxun, Chuangjie and other models sales are very general. At present, the highest-selling model of Chevrolet brand is Cruzer, followed by MaiRuiBao XL and Explorer, the first two models are replaced with four-cylinder engine, which has driven sales surge.

In April 2020, two new models were launched in Koruze, namely Koruze 320 Automatic Joy Edition and 320 Automatic Joy Edition. The new car is equipped with 1.5L four-cylinder engine, with maximum power of 83kW and peak torque of 141N·m, combined with 6-speed DSS intelligent gearbox. The biggest significance of the launch of the new car is to change the three-cylinder situation of the whole Kruze series. Before that, Kaluze was equipped with a 1.3T three-cylinder engine with a maximum power of 163 hp and a peak torque of 230N·m, matched with a 6-speed manual self-contained gearbox.

In December 2020, three new models of MaiRuiBao XL will be launched, namely, 550T sharp version with price of 194,900 yuan, 550T sharp version with price of 204,900 yuan and 550T sharp intelligent version with price of 219,900 yuan. The appearance and interior of the new model are basically the same as those of the model on sale, but the 1.5T four-cylinder engine is replaced, with the maximum power of 124kw and peak torque of 250N·m, matched with 9AT gearbox.

The acceptance degree of three-cylinder engine in domestic market is not high, although only one cylinder is missing, but the characteristics such as jitter, unsmooth operation and loud noise gradually become the obstacle that consumers can't get around in buying cars. In the past year, there are still car companies that compromise because of emissions, carrying three-cylinder engines on a brand-new generation of models and breaking the sand field, and finally have to re-produce the old four-cylinder cars. In fact, three-cylinder cars are more likely to be the product of a compromise on emissions standards, because three-cylinder cars produce fewer negative points than four-cylinder cars. However, three-cylinder engines are not popular in the Chinese market, so most car companies will still choose to compromise for sales, only some car companies are still insisting on launching three-cylinder cars.

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