On July 20, Neta launched a facelift of its flagship sedan, the Neta S, with a starting price reduced by RMB 30,000.

As its major local peers posted record deliveries, Hozon Auto's new energy vehicle (NEV) brand, Neta Auto, became one of the few to see a decline in deliveries in July.

Neta delivered 10,039 vehicles in July, down 28.48 percent from 14,037 units in the same month last year and down 17.25 percent from 12,132 in June, according to data released today.

The company didn't explain why deliveries slipped in July, though its model switch may have had some impact.

On July 20, Neta launched a facelift of its flagship sedan, the Neta S, with a starting price of RMB 159,800, down RMB 30,000 ($4,190), or 15.81 percent, from RMB 189,800 for the previously on-sale model.

The model is unchanged in terms of dimensions, with the exterior and interior design remaining the same as the old model. It continues to offer two options in terms of powertrains -- an extended range electric vehicle (EREV) version and a battery electric vehicle (BEV) version.

The starting prices of the three BEV versions of the new Neta S are RMB 229,800, RMB 259,800 and RMB 269,800 respectively.

Its three EREV versions start at RMB 159,800, RMB 179,800, and RMB 189,800, respectively.

For comparison, the lowest-priced pure electric Neta S previously on sale, the Neta S 520 Lite, starts at RMB 189,800. The previous lowest-priced EREV version of the Neta S started at RMB 202,800.

Neta has been seen as a budget EV maker since its inception, as its vehicles are priced primarily at the lower end of the market, with the Neta V and Neta U priced at around RMB 100,000 to RMB 150,000.

The Neta S is its first effort at the premium end of the market, initially launching on July 31, 2022 in China.

On the first day of the Shanghai auto show on April 18, Neta launched the Neta GT electric sports car with a starting price of RMB 178,800 to RMB 227,800 yuan. Deliveries of the model began on May 13.

Neta today did not release a breakdown of delivery figures for its different models.

($1 = RMB 7.1673)

Neta launches facelift of flagship sedan Neta S, with starting price reduced by about 16%