Image Credit: Everything Electric APAC/YouTubeChinese cars are becoming more popular in various parts of the world. Europe in particular has seen an influx of them, with countries like the UK seeing more and more vehicles such as BYDs out on their roads. But one Chinese car company is doing things a bit differently.Fugu Motors is a company that began life in 1995, initially modifying motorcycles in Beijing to try and turn them into American-style choppers. It then wanted to move on to creating its own cars, but there was an issue. Car modifications are illegal in China.This meant that Fugu Motors would have to find a clever loophole to be able to produce what it wanted. That is when it got in touch with BYD, and in 2020, the two companies partnered up, with Fugu Motors utilizing its contract manufacturing division.AdvertisementAdvertisementWhat this meant was that Fugu Motors could buy everything they needed from BYD, such as the chassis and powertrain, and then create their own body to fit on top. That meant they could get around the car-modifying limitations. So what did they decide to build? Well, 1950s American classic cars, of course!How Does the Partnership With Byd Work?The setup between the Two Companies Is very straightforward. Fugu Motors will take the rolling chassis, suspension, powertrain, and battery from BYD. Initially, the plug-in hybrid model of the Qin Pro Plus was used, and Fugu created a hybrid car that resembled a 1950s Chevrolet, with inspiration taken from the original Chevrolet C1 Corvette.As it used parts from an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), the car was deemed road legal. The chassis, engine, and everything else were homologated in China. The only thing that changed was the body of the car and the interior design. The company sold 199 examples of this Corvette-inspired build, each one selling for around $150,000.With the proof of concept proven, the company could begin working on more designs. At the recent Beijing Auto Show, it had its own large stand where it could show off some of its designs. Since that initial Corvette design, the company has also produced a few more cars, each with design cues similar to American classics of the 1950s. Now it has been working on new partnerships to help move its ambitions forward.How Fugu Motors Is Expanding Its LineupImage Credit: Everything Electric APAC/YouTubeThanks to advances made by BYD, Fugu Motors has been able to work with electric powertrains to create even more vehicles. It has also teamed up with the Nanjing government and Nanjing bus company, Jinlong, to further expand its portfolio. As shown by YouTuber Everything Electric APAC, there are already some exciting things in the pipeline for the Chinese company.AdvertisementAdvertisementOne of those is a retro van that looks like the classic Volkswagen Campervan that became a cultural icon in the 1960s. This has a Wuling hybrid powertrain at its core, with CATL batteries. The company is also making a 1930s-style hot rod, which will even have fake exhaust pipes as well as a chrome grille. The company is certainly proving that EVs don't have to be boring, and they've shown they are not afraid to work through a few loopholes to get what they want.If you want more stories like this, follow Guessing Headlights on Yahoo so you don't miss what's coming next.
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