Chinese startup launches electric car sales in Europe's most important market

The Guangzhou-based electric carmaker is leaving its entry-level models in China and bringing its higher-end models to Germany: the G9 SUV and P7 sedan. Sales and test drives will begin in May.

Xpeng will use the traditional dealership model, selling cars through authorized third parties. There are 12 independent dealers offering the G9 and P7 in 24 locations. “By the end of the year, the number could double, and by the end of 2026, there will be around 60 dealers with 120 locations,” said Markus Schrick, head of Xpeng Germany.

Germany is the most important European market - Xpeng knows this well. At the 2023 Munich Auto Show, Brian Gu - the company's vice president - said that "our success in Germany will determine our success on the continent".

In Germany, the G9 SUV will have 3 versions: RWD Standard Range with 78.2 kWh battery and 230 kW electric motor priced at 63,400 USD, RWD Long Range version with 98 kWh battery and 230 kW motor priced at 67,500 USD, and AWD Long Range version with 98 kWh battery and two 405 kW electric motors, accelerating from 0-100 km/h in 3.9 seconds priced at 75,400 USD.

The G9 will launch in China in September 2022, starting at $42,900. The facelift will come a year later. In the price war, the G9 has also gradually dropped, to $36,500 and then $35,200.

Xpeng has three SUV models sold in China, the entry-level G3, followed by the G6 - a rival to the Tesla Model Y, and the flagship SUV G9.

In Germany, the P7 also comes in three versions: RWD Long Range for $53,700, AWD Performance for $63,500, and AWD Wing Edition (scissor doors) for $75,400.

In China, Xpeng has two sedans: the entry-level P5 and the high-end P7. The 2024 version of the P7 starts at $28,200.

The Chinese electric vehicle startup plans to expand into the European market and will enter France, Italy and the UK. Its French website is ready to launch.

In early March, Xpeng announced plans to launch its first right-hand drive (right-hand drive) model in Hong Kong this year, following reports that Xpeng would enter right-hand drive markets in Australia and Singapore in the second half of the year. In February, Xpeng announced its entry into five Middle Eastern markets.

In July 2023, Volkswagen invested $700 million to buy a nearly 5% stake in Xpeng. It is reported that the German company may use Xpeng's Edward platform - the structure of the 2022 G9 - to develop two new electric vehicles in China, with an expected launch date of 2026.

In 2023, Xpeng sold a total of 141,601 electric vehicles. This year, the company's sales target is 280,000 vehicles.