The Riich M1 is a city car produced by the Chinese automaker Chery between 2009 and 2014 and sold under the marque Riich in China. The M1 was also known as the Chery M1 or Chery S18 in most of export market, and as a DR1 in Italy assembled via CKD by DR Motor in Macchia d'Isernia. A notchback version, called Riich M5, was introduced in 2010, but production ended in 2014 due to poor sales. In 2017, Chinese automobile maker Hawtai acquired the license from Chery to build the EV based M1 and production restarted in 2018. The Hawtai model was called S1 iEV360.
History
Developed on the same platform as the Chery QQ, the Riich M1 was the smallest car marketed by Riich, the Chery division intended to sell better quality and better finished cars than the rest of the parent company. In fact, the M1 was a totally new project compared to the old QQ that was still produced and updated several times. Launched the 16 August2009 in China, the M1 has a five-door body with a MPV-like design. With a length of 3.60 meters the car was designed especially for export, in fact it will be assembled under license in Italy by DR Motor going to be in direct competition with the european A-segment cars like the Fiat Panda, Citroen C1, Peugeot 107 and Hyundai i10. At launch the car was equipped with two four-cylinder petrol engines from the Acteco family developed by Chery and AVL. The 1.0 16V and 1.3 16V. The gearbox was five-speed manual or optional 5-speed semi-automatic on the 1.3. The interior was characterized by central instrumentation. Subsequently the 1.0 engine was replaced by the new 1.1 16V Acteco. In November 2010, the electric version with an engine delivering 40 kW and a total range of between 120 and 150 km came into production. In most Asian and Latin American markets, the M1 will be exported from Chery to be sold under its own brand, being the Riich division specific to China. In 2013, the Riich brand is closed and some vehicles will continue to be sold under the Chery brand; the M1 will then become Chery M1. Production ends in 2014 due to low sales.
Riich X1 (crossover version)
An estate version with crossover cues called the Riich X1 was also available featuring a wagon body and black plastic cladding. After Hawtai's acquisition of the production license from Chery in 2017, the model was rebadged to Shendafei 2 XEV 360.
Riich M5 (notchback version)
In 2010, a notchback-sedan version called Riich M5 is presented, characterized by the rear volume but with 5-door. The bodywork is extended by 30 cm, the third volume guarantees a much bigger boot. The M5 is a total of 3.90 meters in length and is powered by the only 1.3 16V petrol engine with manual or automatic transmission. Compared to the M1, there is no difference in the interior, also the front and the doors are kept. Production of the M5 ends in 2014, due to poor sales.
License built version
DR1 (2009–2014)
The M1 was produced in CKD by DR Motor in Italy at the Macchia d'Isernia plant and renamed DR1. Production starts at the end of 2009 with presentation at the Bologna Motor Show 2009 and compared to the Chinese version the DR1 presents a new redesigned bumper with a rectangular grille and better finished interiors, moreover all the safety devices have been re-homologated according to European standards. Also the structure had been revised to better fit the European driving, moreover the body had been reinforced for the homologation in the crash tests. Initially it was proposed with the same 1.3 16V of the Chinese Riich M1. In 2011 the 1.1 16V was added. All the engines were also available with dual power supply with LPG system. Initially in Italy it was quite successful, however, sales later fell and production stopped in 2014. In Italy a special version called DR1 Ambassador was also sold with enriched equipment and logos with the Italian flag applied on the side. The electric version had been exhibited at the Bologna Motor Show 2010 but has never entered production due to the low demand for electric vehicles in Italy. It has been replaced by DR Zero
Hawtai S1 iEV360 (2018–present)
In 2017, Hawtai Motor Group acquired the license for production of the EV version from Chery and in 2018 began assembly with the presentation at the Beijing Auto Show of the Hawtai version rebadged S1 iEV360. The car, compared to the original electric M1, has been re-engineered by adopting a new electric motor and new batteries that guarantee an range of about 225 km in the homologation in the NEDC cycle. The Hawtai version is sold only in China.
