Hafei Saibao EV heads to U.S., named Coda Sedan

Another Chinese automaker is planning to send its cars to the United States. Harbin-based Hafei Motor, an affiliate of China's largest aircraft manufacturer, has developed an electric version of its Saibao sedan, a five-year-old compact model designed by Pininfarina and unveiled at the 2004 Beijing Auto Show. Rebadged as the Coda Sedan, the Saibao EV is slated to go on sale in California in late 2010.

Headquartered in northern China, Hafei Motor is a division of state-owned AviChina Industry & Technology, which builds military and commercial jets and helicopters.

Hafei began selling the Saibao in China in 2005. Since then, the five-passenger sedan has been upgraded several times, but not heavily redesigned. In China, the Saibao equipped with a four-cylinder gasoline engine sells for $13,000.

Hafei began working in 2007 with Tianjin-based Qingyuan Electric Vehicle Co. to develop a battery-powered version of the Saibao, in partnership with a U.S. company, Miles Automotive. Lithium-ion batteries are being supplied by Lishen Battery, also based in Tianjin.

Miles Automotive has some experience with Chinese-made electric vehicles. It has imported a battery-powered version of the FAW Happy Messenger, a minicompact it has rebadged as the Miles ZX40. Miles has displayed prototypes of the Saibao EV, which it originally had planned to market in the U.S. as the Miles XS500.

Since then, Miles has established a new affiliate, Coda Automotive, to oversee marketing, distribution and sales of the newly christened Coda Sedan, which it plans to sell for $45,000.

The reconstituted Saibao is getting long in the tooth but is not yet completely out of date — a credit to the original Pininfarina design.