Images via Electrek.
Earlier this week we had a big story about another new Chinese EV startup. It is called WM Motors and was founded by an ex-Geely man called Freeman Shen and co-founded by a man named Napoleon Du. The company released renderings of four cars they said they were going to build. The four included an SUV. Electrek had a funny feeling and found out that the SUV images were photoshopped over promotional pictures of the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.
Naturally, one Photoshop does not mean the whole company is a fake but it sure is not a good sign. It also makes us very curious about their other vehicles.
[updated: WM Motor denies the images are theirs]
The wagon. It was already clear that it was a lowered-down variant of the SUV with a different bumper. It is also another photoshop based on the Outlander PHEV, although the designer tried a bit harder here. This is the original:
Look no further than the mirrors, same as on the SUV photoshop. Also check the roof rails.
The sedan. Well if those mirrors aren’t there once again! Same front as the wagon. Probably again based on an Outlander pic. I have not been able to find the original, but I am very sure it is out there somewhere.
This is the MPV. We thought it had a touch of Citroen. Opel Zafira perhaps? Inconclusive. Those red roof tops on the background are very distinctive.
Chinese media hasn’t picked up on the Photoshop story yet. If they do, houses will burn.
WM stands for Weltmeister, which is German. It means world champion, as in soccer world champion. It is very rare for a Chinese company to use a German word for its name. The Chinese name is Weima (威马). It too has a W and an M but the meaning is rather different; Weima means powerful horse.
They will have a factory in Suzhou with an an initial annual capacity of 50.000 cars. Production is set to start in 2018. Freeman Shen has said his cars will incorporate German technology, including tech from Bosh and Siemens. All four vehicles are based on one platform called PL2. No further details or specs announced. Naturally, the cars will be connected and smart, there will be big touch screens and many apps to download. WM Motors has cooperation agreements with telecom giant China Unicom and with hardware maker Huawei.
This WM Motors should not be confused with an American company with the same name.
They do that(Photoshop overlays) all the time in the industry to save time making a styling proposal with a package and proportion that looks believable and makes sense. It happens in every company and that is totally acceptable. The only thing WM did wrong here is probably using the same photo the designer submitted for quick valuation as their press photo, and that is definitely a big nono. They’re pretty much showing that obviously they don’t even have a completed design and CAD model for them to at least render with blank studio backgrounds yet.
Thanks to me; Knut Nyhagen, http://www.Nyhagen.eu you got aware of the fraud. But this is so typical China.
The government want electric car development and fund it, so the businessmen provide it. It will never run on any wheels, but it “look good” for the politicians…. Stupid people!!!
Was I “photosoped”? Where is my comment where I – MYSELF – made you Tycho aware of the fraud??
Damn you! I always trusted you not to be a communist ‘run-along’.
Knut
Hello Knut,
This is Tycho. I am from Holland, living in Beijing. No communist (:. I have not deleted any of your comments. I have checked the spam box but can’t find anything there. I don’t really get what you mean (?). Anyway, thanks a lot for your comments and tips.
By the way… I am a Norwegian, and a genuine Viking. Be aware!!
Sweden never had Vikings, they were not even a country, The danes neither, the were farmers. And south of Gothenburg belonged to the danes, and north of Gothenburg was Norwegian! But Volvo does a great Nodic job in Gothemburg after Ford was kicked out (shit Volvo copies in a Ford shit technology).