China’s XPeng confirms massive model rush

The ambitious Chinese auto brand XPeng has confirmed a massive expansion of its line-up with more than 12 all-new models set for release by the middle of 2026.

What’s more, the massive product onslaught doesn’t count facelifts and updates of existing models.

Instead, the brand is focussed on delivering new electric vehicles and an expansion into the plug-in hybrid realm with its ‘Kunpeng’ range extender system that will debut in the second half of 2025.

The product avalanche was confirmed to carsales by the company’s global finance and accounting vice president James Wu, who was in Australia this week for the opening of local distributor TrueEV’s flagship store in Sydney’s Mascot airport precinct.

It’s a big step up in ambition from the four new models announced by XPeng founder He Xiaopeng last month, all of which will launch next year.

“Starting from Q3 this year until middle 2026, we are going to have more than a dozen all-new models coming out,” Wu confirmed.

“This is outside of facelifts and overseas models.

“I wouldn’t get too much into specific models but obviously there will be SUVs and sedans and MPVs.

“We will also introduce extended range next year as well.”

The expansion of the line-up reflects XPeng’s ambition to become a mass market player.

“We are aiming at more than one million units [annual sales] at some point,” Wu said.

“To achieve that you have to have the right portfolio.”

Building a million cars a year would be a huge step up for 10-year-old XPeng – which has just arrived in Australia – given it’s expected to top 200,000 annual sales for the first time in 2024.

Its fortunes have been boosted by the global launch of the Mona M03 small sedan and P7+ family car this year.

Both models are about to start the homologation process for Australia and are expected on sale here in 2026.

The 2025 model roll-out in China is expected to include a super-sports EV, a robotaxi and a PHEV SUV – Kunpeng is said to have an enormous 430km electric range and a combined fuel range of 1400km.

XPeng’s Aussie launch model, the G6 mid-size SUV, is also scheduled for a facelift in 2025 along with the larger G9 SUV which, critically for Australia, is expected to add a third seating row.

The G6 AWD Performance flagship and the X9 people-mover have also been confirmed for Australia.

The model rush outlined by Wu is unprecedented for XPeng, which currently has seven models in its global line-up.

“In the past we may launch one or two vehicles per year, but that is because we have not prepared ourselves good enough in terms of cost saving, investment saving, efficiencies and commonisation across platforms,” he said.

“Now we are ready.”

While it’s unclear just how many of the upcoming XPeng models will come here, Wu described Australia as a “very important” market, suggesting a lot of them are on the cards.

“We have entered more than 30 countries,” he said. “We’ve got five to six strategic markets and Australia one of those.”

Publicly listed on the Hong Kong and New York exchanges, XPeng has yet to make money but is forecasting to break even by late 2025.

Wu cited a recent $1 billion investment by the Volkswagen Group as a key reason XPeng can look forward to a profitable future – the German car giant sought the alliance to gain access to the Chinese brand’s technologies, including AI development.

“We have several strategic partnerships with them [VW] on vehicle development, electrical architecture collaboration and all of these are important revenue streams for us and the profit margin on those revenues are very, very high,” Wu said.

“This is also part of a unique revenue steam and path to profitability for XPeng.”

Collaborations with other auto groups has also been forecast by company executives.

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