XPeng L03 rollout comes with software growing pains
Chinese car-maker says software issues are part of establishing itself in Australia and New ZealandThe News
XPeng says it is working through software and other issues affecting its cars in Australia, describing them as part of the “learning curve” of establishing a relatively new team and brand in the local market.
The Key Details
- XPeng calls software issues a learning curve
- Affirms Australians aren’t being used as beta testers
- Customer feedback to shape local software development
- Local testing has been underway since earlier this year
- Five new models planned within six months
The Finer Details
At the local launch of the L03, XPeng head of marketing Damien Royce said the brand was still working through issues as it established itself in Australia and New Zealand, describing it as “a learning curve” for a “relatively new team”.
“There’s some of the things that we continue to work on as well,” he said, adding that these are the sorts of problems that can come with establishing a new brand in a new market.
The comments came after XPeng was questioned about issues affecting journalist vehicles and chatter around software problems.
XPeng head of PR Terry Zhang said the priority was making sure problems were identified and resolved quickly, describing the “speed of resolving problems” as particularly important for a new brand.
The company also said its approach to local software development was not simply about more testing, but about gaining experience and listening to customer feedback.
“I think it comes back to constantly listening to what customers are saying and getting that feedback,” Zhang said.
“So as we develop in this market, we can make sure that it’s suitable for our market.”
XPeng says it has already undertaken road, dynamic, data and software testing in Australia, with testing beginning earlier this year and continuing across different models and areas of development.
One example raised during the discussion was an X9 that reportedly could not be started, which XPeng attributed to a flat battery in the remote rather than a vehicle fault.
The Road Ahead
XPeng is in the middle of an aggressive Australian rollout, with five new models planned within six months as it works to establish the brand locally.
The L03 is the latest model to reach our shores and is slated for customer deliveries later this year.
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