XPeng confirms Australian assault this year

Yet another Chinese auto brand has confirmed its launch in the Australian market this year, with XPeng today announcing it will release a direct rival for the top-selling Tesla Model Y in the fourth quarter of 2024.

XPeng said TrueEV will be the sole importer, distributor and retailer of its vehicles Down Under, starting with the 2024 XPeng G6 mid-size electric SUV, rivals for which will include the Chinese-made Model Y – Australia’s most popular EV – and BYD Atto 3, as well as the upcoming SsangYong Torres EVX.

There’s so far no indication about where the G6 will be priced and positioned in Australia, but XPeng G6’s European spec sheet indicates it won’t be a cheap and cheerful EV, but rather a fully-fledged Model Y rival.

Designed primarily for export markets, the XPeng G6 is based on the company’s modular ‘SEPA2.0’ (Smart Electric Platform Architecture 2.0) platform armed with a fast-charging 800V electrical architecture and packing plenty of power.

Single- and dual-motor configurations are available in Europe, but the latter is only offered in tandem with a bigger and more advanced 87.5kWh lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide battery pack, rather than a smaller and cheaper 66kWh lithium iron phosphate unit.

Three powertrains are offered in total, comprising the 190kW/440Nm RWD Standard Range, 210kW/440Nm RWD Long Range and 350kW/660Nm AWD Performance, the latter of which is claimed to launch from 0-100km/h in four seconds.

The Standard Range configuration offers a maximum WLTP cruising distance of 435km, while the RWD Long Range is claimed to cover up to 570km – 47km further than the equivalent Model Y.

XPeng says 280kW DC fast-charging capabilities allow either of the G6’s batteries to be charged from 10-80 per cent in just 20 minutes.

Standard equipment highlights across the G6 portfolio in Europe include 20-inch alloy wheels with Michelin tyres, panoramic glass roof, a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, 14.96-inch infotainment interface, heated and leatherette-trimmed seats, ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, an 18-speaker premium sound system and vehicle-to-load charging functionality (V2L).

Optional extras are limited in Europe to an electrically deployable tow bar and exterior paint colour, while boot space is rated at a class-competitive 571 litres.

TrueEV says plans to offer XPeng’s entire range Down Under, meaning the G6 will eventually be joined by the bigger G9 and smaller G3i SUVs, as well as the P5 and P7 sedans – the latter of which is aimed squarely at the Porsche Taycan.

“We are beyond excited to announce our exclusive partnership with XPENG to bring to the market a highly intelligent, stylish and technologically advanced electric vehicle that will excite and accelerate the adoption of EVs in Australia,” said TrueEV CEO, Jason Clarke.

“XPENG is the highest quality intelligent EV that we could identify after an exhaustive search. We are confident that XPENG’s product range and design features are ideally suited to the Australian market.

“This collaboration represents a significant leap forward in the Australian range of intelligent EVs available and will be supported with the roll out of superior charging technology and capability.”

Australia won’t be the only brand taking delivery of new XPengs by the end of this year. Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia are also on the brand’s radar for the immediate future, as is a new technical collaboration with the Volkswagen Group.

Founded in 2014 in Guangzhou, XPeng describes itself as “a global smart electric vehicle company” that will deliver vehicles with “superior safety, electric efficiency and on-road performance to markets across the globe”.

XPeng has headquarters in Guangzhou and Amsterdam, as well as offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Silicon Valley, and says “autonomous driving capabilities, SEPA 2.0 and captivating in-car infotainment systems” will be part of its core technology offering.

“The partnership with TrueEV in Australia is recognised as a significant step forward in our global expansion strategy,” said XPeng’s GM of international markets, Alex Tang.

“Our vision, values and unwavering commitment to superior quality aligns perfectly. TrueEV’s experience and local insight makes this the natural and forward-thinking next step in our expansion plan.

“By entering new markets strategically and offering a range of EV models tailored to local customer needs, we aim to solidify our brand position as a leading player in the smart EV sector on a global scale.”

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