Hozon Auto (Chinese: 合众汽车; pinyin: Hézhòng Qìchē) is a Chinese electric car manufacturer which was established in 2014. It produces vehicles under the Neta (Chinese: 哪吒; pinyin: Nézhā) brand.
 | |
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | October 2014 |
| Founder | Zhang Yong |
| Headquarters | , China |
Area served |
|
Key people | Zhang Yong (CEO) |
Production output |  127,496 (2023) |
| Brands | Neta Auto |
Number of employees | 9,000 |
| Subsidiaries |
|
| Chinese name | |
| Simplified Chinese | 合众新能源汽车股份有限公司 |
| Hanyu Pinyin | Hézhòng Xīn Néngyuán Qìchē Gǔfèn Yǒuxiàn Gōngsī |
| Website |
|
History
editHozon Auto was founded in 2014 in the Zhejiang province, co-founded by Beijing Sinohytec and Zhejiang Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University and is based in Jiaxing.[1] It opened an Autonomous Vehicle Research Centre in California's Silicon Valley in 2018, and a Beijing-based Design Centre opened in March 2019. Its current headquarters are located in Putuo District, Shanghai, which was opened in 2023.[2]
The company announced its first concept car in 2017.[3] The first production model Neta N01 compact SUV was launched in 2018[4] built on its HPA platform along with the launch of the Neta brand, with orders for the mid-sized Neta U SUV based on the HPC platform being taken in 2019.[5] The company has plans for further models based on the two platforms.
In March 2024, in order to alleviate the financial pressure of Hozon and facilitate its expansion in overseas markets, the government of Hong Kong announced to provide a subsidy of up to HK$ 200 million (25.6 million USD). The Hongkong government also promise to assist its cornerstone round of IPO and rise 200 million USD. In return, Hozon will establish a manufacture plant in Hongkong. [6][7]
In April 2024, three investment companies founded by the governments of Yichun, Tongxiang and Nanning, announced to jointly inject 5 billion RMB (691 million USD) to Hozon to alleviate its financial pressure and for the future IPO. [8] Despite the expansion of the offer and a significant expansion of the market reach to include new sales markets, at the turn of October and November 2024 Hozon Auto found itself in a bad financial situation. Due to, among other reasons, failure to meet planned sales targets (30% lower popularity of models than expected), the company carried out massive pay cuts for its employees and suspended car production[9].
Overseas markets
editIn March 2023, Hozon Auto announced the construction of its first overseas production facility in Bangkok, Thailand. The facility is scheduled to operate at the end of January 2024 and will target at manufacturing and exporting right-hand drive electric cars to ASEAN countries.[10] In November 2023, Neta Auto (Thailand) Co., Ltd. with its partner, Bangchan General Assembly Co., Ltd. (BGAC), started assembling right-hand drive electric cars in Thailand, with its first model the Neta V-II. At this point, over 12,000 units of the imported Neta V have been delivered within Thailand.[11]
In August 2023, Hozon Auto through its subsidiary PT Neta Auto Indonesia introduced the Neta V in Indonesia, with deliveries commenced in November 2023.[12] In April 2024, Neta Auto Indonesia started assembling vehicles at the PT Handal Motor Indonesia plant, with the facelifted V-II.[13]
In 2024, Hozon Auto started an operation in Brazil and announced a local factory for 2025. The Brazilian factory will supply all of South America continent.
Hozon Auto Expands into Africa in 2024, With Kenya launch.[14]
Products
editHozon Auto currently has a single brand called Neta.
Current models
edit- Neta S (2021–present), midsize sedan/estate wagon, BEV/REEV
- Neta GT (2023–present), midsize sports car, BEV
- Neta L (2024–present), midsize SUV, BEV/REEV
- Neta U/X (2019–present), compact SUV, BEV
- Neta V/Aya (2020–present), subcompact SUV, BEV
-
Neta X -
Neta L -
Neta S -
Neta GT -
Neta V
Discontinued models
edit- Neta N01 (2018–2020), subcompact SUV, BEV
-
Neta N01
Concepts
edit-
Neta Eureka 01 Concept -
Neta Eureka 02 Concept -
Neta Eureka 03 Concept -
Neta U Concept
Sales
edit| Year | Sales |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 1,206 |
| 2019 | 11,212 |
| 2020 | 15,509 |
| 2021 | 69,674 |
| 2022 | 152,073 |
| 2023 | 127,496 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "HOZON Auto Launches R&D Center in Silicon Valley to Explore Autonomous Driving". Future Car. 17 April 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2019.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "联系我们-哪吒汽车官网". www.hozonauto.com. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
- ^ "Hozon Auto Is Another New EV Brand From China". Car News China. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
- ^ "New horizons for Hozon as it opens design center ahead of Shanghai car launch". China Daily. 1 April 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
- ^ Hu (17 May 2019). "Hozon Auto Launched Its 2nd All-Electric SUV – Hozon U At 2019 Shanghai Show and Opened for Pre-sale". Chinapev. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
- ^ Shen, Jill (2024-03-21). "HK gov to provide $25.6 mln subsidy to China EV maker Hozon · TechNode". TechNode. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
- ^ "哪吒汽车与香港政府签约，获2亿港元补贴". www.stcn.com. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
- ^ "哪吒汽车又获新融资，不少于50亿元 - OFweek新能源汽车网". nev.ofweek.com. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
- ^ Bobylev, Denis (2024-11-06). "Chinese automaker Neta reportedly halts production and cuts salaries". CarNewsChina.com. Retrieved 2024-11-07.
- ^ "Neta starts building EV factory in Thailand - electrive.com". www.electrive.com/. Retrieved 2023-05-05.
- ^ "NETA Auto completes assembly of first right-hand-drive EV in Thailand". autonews.gasgoo.com. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
- ^ Sudjatmiko, Suryo. "Neta Resmi Hadir Di Indonesia, Boyong Tiga Model Sekaligus". Oto Driver (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2024-02-23.
- ^ "PT NETA Auto Indonesia Celebrates First Local Production of NETA V-II with Line Off Celebration". neta.co.id. 2024-04-25. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
- ^ Hmedium. "NETA Auto Expands into Africa with Kenya Launch, Unveiling New Vision for Globalization". Newsfile. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
- ^ ""进城"与"出海"：哪吒汽车实现15万销量目标的底气". auto.ifeng.com. Retrieved 2023-01-04.