The Zhidou D2S is an all-electric micro two-seater urban runabout launched by Zhidou Electric Vehicle Co., Ltd. (Zhidou Auto). Positioned as a "micro-mobility" pure electric vehicle, it was engineered primarily for short-distance urban commuting, second family runabouts, and urban mobility for younger buyers. Developed as an upgraded iteration of the Zhidou D2, the Zhidou D2S officially made its market debut on 12 September 2016. In March 2017, the D2S received an annual model-year update with the addition of smart-oriented variants; the 2018 D2S further enhanced its driving range. As of June 2026, the Zhidou D2S range has been completely discontinued; however, as a landmark product in the history of Chinese micro EVs, it continues to hold notable market significance.
In terms of pricing, when the Zhidou D2S was introduced in 2016, it was eligible for various incentives under the 1:1 central and local government EV subsidy programme, including RM45,000 in national subsidies alongside manufacturer rebates, bringing the post-subsidy on-the-road price down to RM56,800. The post-subsidy price for the 2018 D2S stood at RM59,800. Depending on the period and regional subsidy variations, actual transaction prices fluctuated slightly, dipping to between RM53,800 and RM59,800 after dealer discounts.
In terms of dimensions, the Zhidou D2S measures 2,806 mm in length, 1,540 mm in width, and 1,555 mm in height (with some early 2016 units recorded at 2,811 mm long), with a wheelbase of 1,765 mm. Featuring a 3-door, 2-seater hatchback body style, its kerb weight ranges from 775 kg to 875 kg (varying across model years). Its pint-sized footprint, paired with a tight 4-metre minimum turning radius, delivers exceptional agility through congested city streets.
Design-wise, the Zhidou D2S received substantial visual revisions over the D2, signalling a clear departure from low-speed mobility carts toward a chic urban micro-car. The front fascia adopts a brand-new 'tiger-roar' hexagonal grille finished in a two-tone chrome and black mesh treatment, significantly elevating its perceived quality over its predecessor, with a dedicated cooling fan for the battery pack housed right behind the grille. The emblem was updated from the D2's green background to a sleek black badge with chrome lettering and bordering for a cleaner aesthetic. The headlamp assemblies incorporate LED daytime running light strips and projector lenses, complemented by bumper-mounted LED fog lamps and a new Cross styling kit (chrome front lip and rear apron) to accentuate its sporty character. Around the back, the faux air vents from the D2's rear bumper were removed in favour of a contrasting two-tone bumper design to add visual depth, paired with LED tail lights. The exterior colour palette offered six choices: Sardinia White, Classic Black, Elegant Grey, Poppy Red, Latin Yellow, and Ice Crystal Blue, catering to personalised tastes.
Inside, the D2S cabin was penned by Italian designers, offering two dual-tone interior themes: Mocha Brown and Knight Black. Mocha Brown features a beige base with subtle brown accents for an airy ambiance, while Knight Black leans towards a sportier mood with two-tone upholstery and contrasting orange stitching. The steering wheel was upgraded to a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel with integrated controls for audio volume, one-touch mute, hands-free telephony, and voice command activation. The D2's column-mounted gear selector was replaced with a rotary gear selector, delivering a cleaner and more intuitive user experience. The door cards are trimmed in leatherette with diamond-quilted stitching, complete with rubber-lined door pockets, representing a noticeable step up in material quality over the D2. The seats feature two-tone sports-style contours with revised padding to eliminate the backrest bulge found on older models, significantly enhancing seating comfort.
Powering the Zhidou D2S is a front-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor, producing a maximum output of 30 kW (around 40–41 hp) and a peak torque of 95 Nm. Some early 2016 entry models were fitted with a 15 kW motor. It completes the 0–50 km/h sprint in 7 seconds, while the 0–100 km/h acceleration time was not officially published. Top speed is rated at 100 km/h. In low-speed driving (0–60 km/h), the electric motor delivers brisk, linear initial torque for effortless getaways, effortlessly tackling stop-and-go city traffic. Beyond 60 km/h, acceleration tapers off into a smoother, more relaxed delivery, staying true to its urban commuter role.
Energy is supplied by a ternary lithium battery pack, which initially came with an 18 kWh capacity before being upgraded to 27 kWh on the 2018 model. In terms of range, it delivers 180 km of constant-speed cruising range and an NEDC combined driving range of 155 km (increased to 255 km on the 2018 model). For charging, the D2S supports only AC slow charging via a standard 220V domestic power point, requiring 6 to 8 hours for a full charge (reduced to 4 to 6 hours on the 2018 model). DC fast charging is not supported across the range, which somewhat restricts its usability for intercity journeys. A regenerative braking system recovers kinetic energy during deceleration, theoretically extending the driving range by roughly 15%.
Under the skin, the Zhidou D2S is built around a monocoque chassis structure. The suspension setup consists of MacPherson struts up front and a trailing-arm torsion-beam non-independent suspension at the rear (also documented as a standard torsion-beam rear suspension in certain technical sheets). As an electric micro-car, the D2S features a tauter chassis calibration than before, delivering clearer road feedback and improved roll control over the older model; however, speed bumps transmit noticeable jolts into the cabin, requiring drivers to slow down. Given its tall centre of gravity, aggressive cornering is best avoided. Steering is handled by an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system that feels feather-light at car park speeds and weights up steadily on the move, making tight manoeuvring and parking effortless. Braking is handled by all-round disc brakes (front disc / rear disc), paired with either a foot-operated parking brake (on select 2016/2018 variants) or a manual handbrake. It rides on staggered tyres sized 145/60 R13 at the front and 155/50 R14 at the rear, with alloy wheels fitted as standard. Thanks to its tiny 4-metre minimum turning radius, making U-turns and negotiating narrow alleyways is exceptionally effortless.
The cabin of the Zhidou D2S places smart connectivity at its core. The centre stack houses a large touchscreen infotainment display running a customised Android operating system, complete with a 3G SIM module and 1 GB/month of complimentary in-car data. The system supports full-suite voice control across multiple functions once activated by a wake-up prompt. The headline technological feature of the D2S is the world's first factory-integrated, fully voice-activated in-car WeChat: users can log in, send and receive messages, convert text to speech, dictate replies, share locations, and navigate purely via voice prompts without touching the smartphone or screen, significantly enhancing road safety. For navigation, the system provides real-time traffic updates and dynamic route planning, alongside smartphone screen mirroring. In addition, the infotainment system integrates vehicle status diagnostics. The smart key also incorporates car locator, one-touch power window drop, and boot release functions.
On the comfort and convenience front, the D2S is equipped with manual air conditioning, power windows, central locking, a remote key fob, keyless push-button start, and alloy wheels. The seats are upholstered in faux leather with manual fore/aft sliding adjustment for both driver and front passenger. Rear air vents are not provided. The audio system comes standard with a 4-speaker setup.
On the safety front, the Zhidou D2S provides essential active and passive safety features for the micro-car segment. The body utilizes a high-rigidity safety cage structure with high-strength steel applied in critical zones. The driver seat is fitted with a single driver airbag (with an optional front passenger airbag made available on select 2018 variants), while side and curtain airbags are absent. The entire lineup is equipped with ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) and EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution), alongside a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (depending on the model year and variant) and ISOFIX child seat anchor points. A seatbelt reminder is fitted as standard across all variants. Advanced active safety aids such as Electronic Stability Control (ESC/ESP), Traction Control System (TCS), and Hill-Start Assist are not equipped. For driver assistance, the D2S comes standard across the range with reverse parking sensors and a reverse camera, effectively eliminating rear blind spots common to micro-cars. The vehicle was backed by a 3-year/60,000 km general warranty, alongside an 8-year/120,000 km warranty for the traction battery and electric motor. Notably, the lack of DC fast charging limits quick top-ups at public fast-charging stations, restricting long-distance journeys. The car was not submitted for crash safety testing by bodies such as C-NCAP, hence no official safety ratings are available.
The Zhidou D2S enjoyed strong market traction between 2016 and 2018. In 2017, combined sales of the Zhidou D2 and D2S hit 42,484 units, ranking second in China's pure electric vehicle market behind only the BAIC EC Series, and outselling contenders from BYD, Chery, and JAC. In the first ten months of 2017, standalone sales of the Zhidou D2S reached 37,093 units, securing second place on the pure EV sales charts. Total brand-wide sales for Zhidou reached 36,660 units in 2017, compared to 9,091 units in 2016. Across e-commerce channels, the D2S performed exceptionally well; during the 2016 "Double 11" shopping festival on Tmall, 50 half-price units were snapped up within 12 seconds, eventually recording 705 units in valid bookings and setting a new e-commerce sales record for new energy vehicles.
In export markets, Zhidou attained European E-Mark and CE certifications as early as 2012, expanding its reach to over 30 countries across Europe, South America, and beyond, while leading EV sales charts in selected regions. Early models like the Zhidou D1 were exported to European markets such as Germany, France, and Italy.
From a user perspective, the Zhidou D2S received largely positive market feedback. Sentiment data from Sohu Auto indicated that the D2S scored higher overall than 53% of its segment peers, with powertrain satisfaction outperforming 60% of rivals. Owners widely praised its accessible pricing, compact dimensions, ease of parking, and remarkably low running costs (with power consumption rated at 10.6 kWh/100 km, costing only around RM0.1 per km), while commending the upgraded cabin finish and smart infotainment features. Criticisms were mainly directed at the inherent limitations of a two-seater layout, conservative real-world driving range, and the absence of a DC fast-charging port.
Following the progressive roll-back of China's national EV subsidies after 2018 and intensifying rivalry in the micro EV sector, sales of the Zhidou brand declined sharply. In 2018, total brand deliveries fell to 15,336 units. The Zhidou D2S model range was fully discontinued around 2019–2020 as the company underwent restructuring, before making a market comeback in 2024 with new models such as the Zhidou Rainbow. In retrospect, the Zhidou D2S stands as the quintessential embodiment of Zhidou's "micro-mobility" philosophy, having played an instrumental role in popularising pure electric motoring in China between 2016 and 2018. By pioneering smart connected features—such as voice-activated in-car WeChat—in the budget EV sector, it showcased the brand's forward-looking tech exploration. With an entry price in the RM50,000 bracket post-subsidies, the Zhidou D2S lowered the barrier for everyday buyers to embrace electric urban mobility, accumulating a vital customer base and valuable market experience for the early growth of China's micro EV industry.
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