EV House Young Guang Xiaoxin

The YOUNG Guang Xiaoxin is an all-electric micro car launched by the EV House brand (formerly SITECH Auto). Debuting in 2021, it was the first product from SITECH Auto's "comeback" following a brand restructuring exercise. Targeted at the youth segment and co-branded with the popular anime IP "Crayon Shin-chan", it is positioned as an urban runabout for daily short-distance commutes. As of 2025, the YOUNG Guang Xiaoxin offers two CLTC pure electric range options—302 km and 408 km—with an official recommended retail price tag ranging between RM66,800 and RM94,800. Being the sole offering under the EV House banner, the YOUNG Guang Xiaoxin carried the strategic weight of reviving the marque; however, it consistently struggled in a cutthroat market due to low brand awareness and an underdeveloped aftersales network.

Design Language

Exterior styling for the YOUNG Guang Xiaoxin takes a clean, sharp approach rather than the cutesy, bubbly aesthetic typical of most micro cars, giving it a distinctive road presence. The front end features a closed-off fascia with sharp C-shaped headlamp clusters paired with LED daytime running lights (DRLs), delivering an edgy aesthetic. A black honeycomb-pattern lower bumper grille injects a hint of sportiness into the front profile. Along the sides, a continuous shoulder line runs across the body, complemented by dual-tone paint schemes (such as Pearl Black and Pearl White combinations) and 15-inch alloy wheels. Dimension-wise, it measures 3,740 mm long, 1,655 mm wide, and 1,550 mm tall, with a 2,415 mm wheelbase, placing it as a 5-door, 4-seater hatchback. Out back, black garnish frames the tailgate perimeter, flanked by slim split-style tail lamps, while "Sinotruk" and "EV House" emblems clearly state its manufacturing and brand pedigree. The cabin embraces minimalism, featuring a multi-function steering wheel and a 10.25-inch floating central touchscreen, while retaining physical controls for the air-conditioning alongside an available black-and-brown dual-tone interior theme.

Powertrain and Performance

The YOUNG Guang Xiaoxin is driven by a front-mounted single permanent magnet synchronous motor producing a maximum output of 35 kW (48 PS) and 125 Nm of peak torque, paired with a single-speed reduction gear transmission in a front-wheel-drive (FWD) setup, topping out at a maximum speed of 100 km/h. Battery configurations depend on the chosen range variant: the 302 km model is fitted with a 32.56 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack sourced from Gotion High-Tech, whereas the 408 km version gets a 38.54 kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) ternary lithium battery pack. This translates to pure electric operating ranges of 302 km and 408 km under the CLTC test cycle. With DC fast charging, juice levels can go from 30% to 80% in 30 minutes, whilst AC slow charging takes roughly 8 to 10.5 hours. Rated energy consumption sits between 10.3 and 10.9 kWh per 100 km.

Ride and Handling

Under the skin, the front-wheel-drive YOUNG Guang Xiaoxin employs MacPherson struts at the front and a rear torsion beam setup—a standard suspension configuration widely utilised by entry-level micro city cars in this class. Braking hardware consists of ventilated front discs and rear drum brakes, paired with a traditional mechanical handbrake. It rides on 185/55 R15 tyres and comes supplied with a tyre repair kit (no spare wheel). Steering is handled by an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system, with selectable Eco and Standard/Comfort drive modes, alongside Hill Start Assist (HSA) and regenerative braking. The chassis setup is primarily tuned for low-speed city driving, meaning the basic rear torsion beam layout offers limited composure when damping sharp road imperfections.

Cabin and Equipment

Taking centre stage in the cabin is a 10.25-inch floating infotainment touchscreen that supports Bluetooth telephony, smartphone mirroring, native connectivity, connected car services, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi hotspot functionality, and over-the-air (OTA) updates. An integrated voice command system manages multimedia playback, satellite navigation, phone calls, and climate settings. Drivers get a colour digital instrument display, with gear selection managed via an electronic rotary dial. Upholstery comes in fabric on base trims, with higher variants upgraded to synthetic leather; the single-piece folding rear bench allows cargo capacity to expand from 230 litres to 540 litres. Standard comfort features include manual air conditioning, USB/Type-C charging ports (one front, one rear), and a 2-speaker audio system. High-spec variants (2023 model year) add a leatherette-wrapped steering wheel, synthetic leather upholstery, a 360-degree surround-view monitor, cruise control, LED DRLs, and heated wing mirrors.

Safety and Driver Assistance

In terms of passive and active safety, the YOUNG Guang Xiaoxin comes standard with basic essentials across the range, including ABS with EBD, a tyre pressure monitoring system (tyre pressure alert), dual front airbags, and ISOFIX child seat mounting points. Crucially, the car omits essential active electronic stability aids such as Brake Assist (BA), Traction Control (TCS), and Electronic Stability Control (ESC). For driver assistance, reverse parking sensors, a reverse camera, and cruise control (on higher trims) are fitted, roughly equivalent to Level 0–L1 driver assist. Although some initial reports suggested the inclusion of "Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)", official specification sheets confirm the absence of advanced safety features like Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) and Forward Collision Warning (FCW). It is worth highlighting that the vehicle's safety kit is strictly entry-level by modern automotive standards—a point prospective buyers must consider carefully.

Market Performance and Reception

Upon its launch, the YOUNG Guang Xiaoxin contested the competitive RM60,000 to RM90,000 pure electric city car segment, locking horns with rivals like the Leapmotor T03, ORA Black Cat, and Wuling Hongguang MINIEV. Nevertheless, its commercial trajectory was severely hampered by multiple headwinds. Sales figures reflect minimal volume across the brand's lifespan, culminating in complete production cessation in 2024, leaving the 2023 model as its final production run.

Quality complaints regarding the vehicle were notably widespread. Data from Chinese automotive consumer portal 12365auto indicates that by June 2025, the YOUNG Guang Xiaoxin had logged over 30 formal complaints. Primary issues highlighted include: high-voltage traction battery malfunctions (charging failures, sudden state-of-charge drops, severe capacity degradation), sudden loss of motive power whilst driving, 12V auxiliary battery drainage, infotainment telematics failures, remote app control issues, headlamp lens yellowing and cracking, and air-con compressor breakdowns. A number of complaints explicitly cited "aftersales abandonment following carmaker insolvency", with one user grievance recorded in August 2024 highlighting "aftersales support breakdown after manufacturer bankruptcy". The 2023 302KM Original Version recorded the highest concentration of registered defects.

In owner circles, feedback on its real-world driving range (on the 408 km version) and the snappy 10.25-inch infotainment display remained relatively positive. However, recurring keywords like "brand bankruptcy", "battery faults", and "drive power loss" heavily dented consumer confidence. The EV House brand's weak market footprint, coupled with an inadequate service centre footprint and supply chain snags for spare parts, proved detrimental to its market viability.

In summary, as the solitary offering from the EV House stable, the YOUNG Guang Xiaoxin brought novelty to the micro EV segment via its anime IP tie-up, dual battery range variants, and a decent tech suite. Nevertheless, doubtful corporate longevity, high complaint rates on core components, and an inadequate aftersales support ecosystem left it vulnerable in an intensely competitive EV landscape. For prospective used EV buyers, long-term reliability and aftersales parts availability remain critical risk factors that warrant serious due diligence.