2024 XPeng G6 here sooner than expected

Incoming Chinese auto brand XPeng will come to Australia sooner than we expected, with its first model – the 2024 XPeng G6 – now due to arrive here in August.

That’s the latest word from XPeng’s global management at the G6’s European launch last week in the Netherlands, meaning the all-new mid-size electric SUV will be released locally at least a couple of months ahead of expectations.

XPeng and its Tesla Model Y-fighting G6 will be distributed in Australia by TrueEV and the car-maker has confirmed it will be initially sold via retail outlets in only Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane – in a similar move to another Chinese-based EV brand confirmed for Australia recently, Smart.

XPeng’s local retail network will eventually comprise independent showrooms and experience centres – like BYD, Volvo and Polestar – under a ‘channel strategy’, but the total outlet count and an expansion into other states are yet to be detailed.

As one might expect from a Model Y competitor, the 2024 XPeng G6 will be offered here in both standard and long-range guises, with the flagship 350kW/660Nm AWD Performance set to arrive towards the end of the year.

Our first drive in Europe revealed this may be inconsequential given the mid-range RWD Long Range offers better dynamics and a more involving drive than the AWD Performance, while still providing plenty of real-world performance (0-100km/h in 6.7 versus 4.1 seconds).

The performance element comes from its 210kW/440Nm rear electric motor, which draws current from an 87.5kWh lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide battery pack, yielding a WLTP range of up to 570km – 20km further than the AWD Performance and, crucially, 47km further than the equivalent Model Y.

The RWD Standard Range, meantime, will deliver 190kW/440Nm and cover up to 435km on a full charge of its smaller and less complex 66kWh lithium iron phosphate battery.

Pricing is expected to start from about $53,000 plus on-road costs, which would see the G6 undercut its Tesla rival by nearly $3000, but other rivals should include the upcoming SsangYong Solterra EVX as well as more expensive offerings like the Hyundai IONIQ 5, Subaru Solterra and Toyota bZ4X.

The story doesn’t end there, however. A price gulf of close to $10,000 is expected by the time the Model Y and the equivalent G6 are specified like-for-like, thanks to the XPeng’s extensive standard equipment list.

Segment-leading ‘top-up’ charge times are another thing to get excited about, thanks to a 280kW maximum DC fast-charging rate due to the G6’s 800V electrical architecture, compared to just 170-250kW and 400V for the Tesla.

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