On February 14, 2025, the latest offering from GAC Trumpchi, the E8 PRO+, was officially launched in Xi'an with a starting price of 216,800 yuanAs part of a promotional campaign, customers who purchase before the end of March can take advantage of a special price of 209,800 yuanDuring the launch event, the company highlighted that the pricing would remain aligned with the previous year's E8 PRO model, while boasting an impressive 21 upgraded features.

GAC Trumpchi has earned acclaim as a "Chinese MPV Expert." Since the debut of its first high-end multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), the GM8, which was later renamed the M8 in 2017, the brand has risen to become the top-selling domestic brand in the MPV segment, with cumulative sales surpassing 730,000 units over the past seven yearsIn 2024, the brand's MPV sales reached 176,800 units, securing its position at the pinnacle of the MPV sales rankings.

Traditionally, GAC Trumpchi has concentrated its efforts on the high-end business segment of the MPV marketHowever, with the gradual relaxation of the two and three-child policies in China, there is a rising demand for spacious and versatile MPV models that cater to family needsNotably, sales of plug-in hybrid MPVs surged significantly starting in 2023, with an astonishing year-on-year growth rate of 430%. Consequently, GAC Trumpchi has decided to ramp up its investment in family-oriented plug-in hybrid MPVs beginning in 2023.

The E8 series represents GAC Trumpchi's response to the needs of both family users and those requiring vehicles for business travelIt includes a hybrid version, the E8 Glory series, and a plug-in hybrid version, the E8+ seriesBy February 2025, the cumulative sales of the E8+ series exceeded 50,000 units, making it the top seller in the medium-sized MPV segment.

The newly introduced E8 PRO+ aims to cater specifically to family usersIt utilizes a highly efficient 2.0ATK engine paired with a dual-motor plug-in hybrid system, offering a remarkable range of 1,200 kilometers when fully charged and fueled while the pure electric range reaches up to 150 kilometers

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Furthermore, as a plug-in hybrid MPV, the E8 PRO+ benefits from tax exemptions, making it an attractive choice for everyday family outings and commutingIts electric mode contributes to lower operating costs.

According to data from Chezhou, by December 2024, the E8 series recorded a total of 9,244 new energy vehicle sales, while January 2025 showed a significant decrease with only 1,344 units sold from the E8 seriesThe National Federation of Merchants Associations (NFMA) reported that, in December 2024, the E8 series had an insurance volume of 3,649 units nationwideThe considerable discrepancy between insured and wholesale figures suggests that dealerships hold substantial inventories of the E8 new energy models.

In light of these challenges, GAC Trumpchi aspires to use the E8 PRO+ to lower the price barrier and stimulate sales growth. "The E8 PRO+ is designed to fill the gap between the top configuration of the E8 hybrid variant and the lowest configuration of the plug-in hybrid, catering to a price range of 170,000 to 220,000 yuan," shared a GAC Trumpchi dealer with the Economic Observer.

However, some customers of the Trumpchi MPV have raised concerns that the E8 PRO+ compromises too many features that families typically prioritize. "The manufacturer promotes this vehicle as one for the whole family, yet many of the smart and comfort features have been removed," commented a Trumpchi MPV user.

Examining the specifics, while the 2025 E8 PRO+ claims to offer 21 upgraded configurations in comparison to its predecessor, the earlier 2024 E8 PRO had already ceased production with the launch of the E8 MAX+ in September 2024. Therefore, a more appropriate model for comparison is the E8 MAX+. Although the price of the E8 PRO+ is reduced by 16,000 yuan in comparison to the E8 PRO MAX+, it lacks many features that family users find important, such as L2 level assistance driving, front radar, automatic headlights, a full-width daytime running light, soundproof glass for both front and rear seats, rear sunshades, rain-sensing wipers, wireless mobile charging, Bluetooth key, rear seat small tables, and interior ambient lighting

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From a sales perspective, the E8 MAX+ comes with a government subsidy of 15,000 yuan for trade-ins and 10,000 yuan from the manufacturer, while the E8 PRO+ only benefits from the national trade-in subsidy. "If trade-ins are considered, after applying various discounts, the landing price for the E8 MAX+ is approximately 219,000 yuan, making it about 20,000 yuan more expensive than the E8 PRO+. For families, choosing the MAX+ is clearly a more suitable option," the dealer explained.

Currently, the offerings in the Trumpchi E8 new energy series include the E8 PRO+, E8 MAX+, the 150km Longteng Guanghui+, and Longteng Xingye+ versionsIn November 2023, GAC Trumpchi launched the E8 PRO and E8 MAX, followed by the Longteng Guanghui version in February 2024, the Longteng Xingye version in June, and the MAX+, Longteng Guanghui+, and Longteng Xingye+ versions in SeptemberWith the introduction of the PRO+ model, GAC Trumpchi is aiming to release a new model in the E8 new energy lineup each quarter.

In response to this frequent product rollout, a prospective customer of the Trumpchi E8 expressed their view on the matter: "While the rapid introduction of new models may maintain the buzz surrounding the E8 series, the constant launching and discontinuation of products can leave existing customers feeling somewhat 'betrayed,' inadvertently raising the perceived cost of understanding the product for users."

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