Chinese Tesla rival Xpeng will launch in the UK in “less than a handful of months” as it works to expand its line-up to include right-hand drive cars, its co-founder has said.
The EV company will launch with its G6 coupé-crossover, a rival to the Tesla Model Y, Brian Gu confirmed to journalists at the Paris motor show.
Xpeng had previously said the UK was on its list of European markets it planned to enter in 2024 but had gone quiet about its plans in recent months.
Chinese EV specialists are now expected to commit to the UK in greater after the government this week said it wouldn't follow the EU and raise tariffs on China-built EVs.
Xpeng showed off its new P7+ fastback at Paris days after its unveiling in China. Xpeng bills it as the “the world’s first AI-defined vehicle” and touted its ADAS features, space and energy efficiency.
It hasn't yet made a decision on whether the P7+ will join the G9 large SUV and more conventionally shaped P7 saloon in European markets or in the UK.
Xpeng is still finalising its future line-up of right-hand-drive models for the UK.
"The UK is a very important market. The reason that we're not already there is because want to do it prudently,” said Gu. “When we launch, we need to understand the pipeline.”
Gu also said Xpeng is planning smaller EVs to better target Europe’s best-selling segments.
The G6 is available in European markets in three variations, mirroring the Model Y range as closely as possible.
The RWD Standard Range variant, with a 66kWh LFP battery, costs €43,600 in Germany; the RWD Long Range, with a 87.5kWh NMC battery, costs €47,600; and the AWD Performance, also with a 87.5kWh NMC battery, costs €51,600.
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This car looks like it could be a winner, but where is the dealer backup coming from. What happens if you need a new windscreen, or if you get an abs sensor go down...?
"Chinese EV specialists are now expected to commit to the UK in greater after the government this week said it wouldn't follow the EU and raise tariffs on China-built EVs."
That's a new one on me - didn't realise our gov had made an announcement. Has this been reported by Autocar? If it's true then brilliant - an example of Brexit working. (The sceptic in me may suggest that as a reason why there's been no mention of it.)
Why create a trade war with China? The EU have no qualms about Germany spending 1 billion Euro to attract Mr Musk to their country but complain about the Chinese Gov subsidising their car industry. Our Gov helped Toyota and Nissan etc to set up shop here and have helped them continue to produce vehicles here. Isn't that how the system works? We lined Mr DeLorean's pockets too.
The French don't seem to be frightened off by the Chinese, it's mainly the German car industry. Perhaps Germany needs to look at it's own products and question it's own manufacturers. Of course they have to charge higher prices for their cars than the Chinese - VW need to recoupe all that compensation they were forced to pay out for deiselgate.
Is Germany is trying to protect her own cheats? I'd suggest that's what all this additional EU tariff nonsense is really about.