Will the Mullen GT become a hit in the United States, or will its Chinese roots cause it to be sent back across the Pacific where it came from?

Whenever the subject of China comes up, Americans tend to have extremely strong negative views. While that might be the case, most Americans also use products made in China every day. This puts us in a precarious place to discuss a new EV that’s heading to the United States in two to three years. This new car isn’t made to be a volume vehicle in the US, but it could be one of the most interesting new EVs to enter the market.

A new sportscar from an EV startup

Mullen has a complicated story that might get more complicated with its attempted entry into the United States. The starting point for this electric car company occurred at the 2015 Shanghai Auto Show, where the company debuted the Qiantu K50. This electric sports car was developed under the parent company Great Wall Huaguan, and was offered in China for three years.

Mullen showed up at the 2019 New York Auto Show as a California-based company to sell EV kits in 2020, but that never took place. Mullen showed up again in Los Angeles with the Mullen Five, which was an SUV coupe using an electric powertrain. Now, it seems Mullen is poised to bring a new sports car to the United States called the Mullen GT. Unfortunately for Mullen, Chinese automakers haven’t fared well in the US yet, but maybe the GT will change that.

A car with several names

As complicated as the backstory of the brand can be, the name changing of the car is even more interesting. The new Mullen GT might be nothing more than a rebadged Qiantu that the parent brands stopped building. Mullen was working on cargo vans and trucks in Mississippi, but now it has its hands on the K50. This car has worn four names, including the Dragonfly K50, Mullen K50, Qiantu K50 by Mullen, and Mullen Dragonfly. Does this mean the new GT is the same car with a fifth name, or will it actually be a completely different car?

A closer look at the GT

Chinese roots aside, this new Mullen electric sports car looks better than expected. The dimensions are similar to the Acura NSX, giving it good proportions if the power is right. The center of the dashboard features a large touchscreen angled toward the driver, a digital instrument panel, and a large curved shifter. It’s easy to see from start to finish that the GT doesn’t follow the typical Chinese formula of copying everything from established automotive brands. This new car is more polished and present than most demonstrator concept cars, which says a lot about the brand.

How does this Mullen drive?

The new Mullen GT could be a fun and active electric sports car for most people. It has a dual-motor setup that’s silent and without whine, making it easy to admire the smooth ride and power of this car. The motors produce about 400 horsepower, which is adequate for a performance EV. Mullen claims 230 miles of driving range in the GT, which can be more fun when put in Sport mode.

Is this the EV supercar Mullen promised?

In March, Mullen promised a new EV supercar that would hit 60 mph in 1.95 seconds and exceed 200 mph. It doesn’t seem the new GT will be anywhere near these figures. In fact, this new EV sports car isn’t even close to those numbers. The GT can reach 60 mph in 4.2 seconds and brings a top speed of 125 mph. Could Mullen create a future supercar that will hit the promised figures, or was the company a little ahead of itself?

Mullen plans American production in the Midwest

Like most car companies, Mullen intends to build its new vehicles in the market where they are sold. The new Mullen GT and GTRS should be produced at the old AM General Plant in Indiana. This is also the planned location where the Mullen Five crossover and Bollinger B1 and B2 will be built. Mullen expects this new sports car to be a hit, but there could be a long road from concept to sales for this company.

Will the Mullen GT be the car that brings Chinese EV production to the United States and begin a new path, or will Americans continue to scoff at cars built under a China-based company? The new GT should arrive in 2025 or 20026 and should have reservations of $1,000 each open soon.