The Philippine market’s adaptation of EV mobility has risen and steadily grown to be able to introduce a multitude of options. Recently, I was able to try something that I think has the potential to take a huge chunk of the EV sales market.
Say hello to the cute and friendly Dongfeng Nammi EV.
Donfeng Nammi EV Drive
Doing media drives for EVs is generally a taxing affair, having to logistically make sure that the range is enough for the journey to and from. I like that Dongfeng PH didn’t bother to boast or push the limits (per se) of this particular media drive.
Our journey was a relatively short but very sweet drive up to Wyndells the Perch in Sun Valley Antipolo, which from the Dongfeng dealership is around about an hour and a little away, just the right amount of immersive experience needed.
At first glance, the Nammi is what you’d expect from a small hatchback EV. It comes in a very cutesy but moderate design, which is further enhanced by the color choices of bright yellow, blue, and white.
Once you get inside, the interior that greets you is a mix of form and function, there are these interesting details and materials used that break the usual boring shapes and touches found in modern interiors. For me, the most interesting is the center console that has a wireless charging pad, and below it a huge recess where you can store sizeable items, and a slide-out drawer-type glove compartment.
Other features included in the Nammi are automatic parking assist and a full ADAS suite, and a unique ‘full-rest’ mode that allows you to remove both front headrests and fold the front 2 seats fully flat.
I also have to commend Dongfeng on the build quality and fit and finish of the Dongfeng Nammi; most budget-friendly EV offerings feel ‘cheap’ and hollow. The Nammi uses soft-touch panels and more robust-feeling interior plastics that lend to a quality feel all around.
When we were set to depart for Antipolo, one thing I noticed was actually how spacious the interior of the Nammi is; there were 3 of us in the car, and yet it felt as though we had our own areas. Upon setting off, the Nammi showed me just how nimble and easy it is to use in the city; the relatively smaller proportions helped our convoy carve up the rush hour traffic easily, and there was enough NVH quality to keep the external noises away.
One thing that surprised me was how the ride of the Dongfeng Nammi was actually better than I expected. After driving through the rather terrible C5 truck lane, there were only very few instances of noticeable harshness from the ride; otherwise, it dealt with the bumps rather well.
After we breezed through the Metro Manila traffic, we moved along and upwards towards Tanay/Antipolo, and you’d think that a small, budget-friendly EV would struggle, but the Nammi took it in stride, giving me enough oomph and torque to keep up and even overtake slower vehicles.
Powering the Nammi is a 42.3 kWh battery pack that makes 70hp and 160 Nm of torque, which may not seem like a lot, but EVs deliver power and torque instantly so the Nammi has more than enough to keep it going, also it has a full range of 430 km, and has a fast charging capability as well.
Handling-wise wise the Nammi does show some weight and heft because of the EV batteries, but not enough to deter any fun or pose any momentum issues; it can safely and easily climb up steep inclines, and can also induce some giggles around some twisty roads.
The Friendly EV companion for the new EV generation
While our drive could be considered rather short and somewhat normal, it was more than enough time for me to get to know what I think is a solid choice for a first EV. The Dongfeng Nammi is, for all intents and purposes, a complete EV product; it has all the needed and relevant features a modern vehicle should have, not to mention it is somewhat class-leading in terms of value for money with the features you get and the range that accompanies the asking price.
I also like how it’ll appeal to a generation eager for self-expression, style, and charisma; the Nammi has the makings of a true new generation EV buyer’s choice.
As of the writing of this article, there is an ongoing promo until July 30, 2025, that drops the Dongfeng Nammis SRP to just PHP 998,000 from PHP 1,238,000.