Hundreds of $1000 deposits for XPeng G6 in Australia

Bullish talk of the new XPeng G6 electric SUV taking on the Tesla Model Y has been backed up by hundreds of $1000 pre-orders for the vehicle.

The G6 will officially be launched with a sub $60,000 drive-away price in late September ahead of first deliveries to buyers in October.

The Tesla Model Y fighter, which is currently completing local testing and development, will be sold in both standard and long range configurations in Australia

It is the first in a series of models from Chinese luxury EV brand XPeng, with the G9 SUV expected to follow by late 2025 and the X9 people-mover currently closing in on confirmation.

All three cars were on XPeng’s stand at last weekend’s Melbourne EV Expo as the brand made its official Australian debut.

“G6 still aiming for launch end of September and we have got orders in already,” TrueEV CEO Jason Clarke told carsales at the expo.

“We are at hundreds [of orders], so looking good and this is our first promotion.

“We will be delivering October-November to lucky Aussies getting into the G6.”

Clarke made no bones about TrueEV’s desire to pitch the G6 under the pricing of the Model Y, which is Australia’s top selling EV.

The Model Y is currently priced from $55,900 plus on-road costs, which translates to more than $60,000 on the road in most Australian states and territories.

“Tesla has got a great brand name no doubt and they are pioneers, but G6 is a great car, it’s amazing,” said Clarke.

“It’s more technologically advanced and much more luxurious.

“The price point is going to be lower [than Model Y],” he confirmed. “The way these things are designed and manufactured and put together so well and the efficiency in the construction just enables us to get there.”

Clarke confirmed the G6 would be localised for Australian conditions with XPeng engineers joining TrueEV engineers to test various examples of the car in Australia since March.

The localisation is expected to include some detailed suspension settings tuning with a contracted local expert, while some of the more advanced autonomous driving aids on offer in China won’t make it here.

“We are going to have lane change assists, cruise control and all those types of things,” said Clarke. “But some of the advanced features … are turned off.

“The autonomous stuff has gone apart from the hands-off parking. It will get you into the bay, it will scan the car park for available spaces, take you there and you can park it from the app without being in it. All those cool things are still there.”

With G6 as its first building block, Clarke said TrueEv’s ambition was to make XPeng a top-five EV seller in Australia and the number one luxury EV brand.

“We’re not just here to flip a few XPeng sexy cars, we are deep into partnering with XPeng to build out the Australian market,” he declared.

Clarke also revealed XPeng would adopt a hybrid retailing model, utilising both the set price agency model and traditional franchised dealers.

“That’s just to get reach,” he explained. “Our dream is to do it ourselves with XPeng but cost of living!

“Do you go all-in on the brand? That’s tough, but there is real commitment. We can’t go all-in one brand one model.

“But if we had a full range right now it might be a bit different.”

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