Dongfeng’s electric off-road brand M Hero to export cars to Middle East

M Hero will soon export the M-917 off-road vehicle to the Middle East, which was previously launched in Switzerland.

(Image credit: CnEVPost)

Dongfeng Motor’s premium electric off-road brand, M Hero, is set to export its first model, the M-917, to the Middle East, as it attempts to expand its international presence.

M Hero will soon export the M-917 to the Middle East, a model that has already been launched in Switzerland, the brand announced yesterday.

Prototypes of the M-917 are currently undergoing testing in the United Arab Emirates, marking the model’s debut in the Middle East, M Hero said.

The M-917 has previously passed EU ECE and Middle East GSO vehicle certifications and is undergoing long-term road testing in target markets around the world to ensure its suitability and stability in different geographical environments, the brand said.

M Hero’s partners in the UAE ordered the M-917 prototypes in March and the cars arrived there in mid-April.

M Hero said its partner in the UAE kicked off a month-long multi-road test for the M-917 prototypes, which were able to handle the desert, Gobi and urban conditions of the Middle East with ease.

Dongfeng unveiled the M Hero brand on August 27, 2022, along with two concepts under the brand, the M-Terrain, and the M-Terrain S.

In August 2023, the M-917 went on sale, offering a battery electric vehicle (BEV) option and an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) option, with starting prices of RMB 697,700 ($96,567) and RMB 637,700, respectively.

At the end of February, M Hero and Huawei signed a strategic cooperation agreement to build a smart car industry ecosystem.

The two sides will work together to promote the commercialization of Huawei’s smart car solutions and help M Hero become a leader in building China’s luxury electric off-road culture, Huawei said at the time.

($1 = RMB 7.225)

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